124Local modifications of prices: agreements
(1)The commissioner and the provider of a health care service may agree that the price payable to the provider for the provision of the service for the purposes of the NHS in such circumstances or areas as may be determined in accordance with the agreement is the price determined in accordance with the national tariff for that service as modified in accordance with the agreement.
(2)An agreement under this section must specify the date on which the modification is to take effect; and a date specified for that purpose may be earlier than the date of the agreement (but not earlier than the date on which the national tariff took effect).
(3)An agreement under this section has effect only if it is approved by Monitor.
(4)An agreement submitted for approval under subsection (3) must be supported by such evidence as Monitor may require.
(5)Monitor may approve an agreement under this section only if, having applied the method specified under section 116(1)(d), it is satisfied that, without a modification to the price determined in accordance with the national tariff for that service, it would be uneconomic for the provider to provide the service for the purposes of the NHS.
(6)Where an agreement is approved under subsection (3), Monitor must send a notice to the Secretary of State and such clinical commissioning groups, providers and other persons as it considers appropriate.
(7)Monitor must also publish the notice.
(8)The notice must specify—
(a)the modification, and
(b)the date on which it takes effect.
(9)If the Secretary of State considers that the modification gives or may give rise (or, where it has yet to take effect, would or might give rise) to liability for breach of an EU obligation, the Secretary of State may give a direction to that effect; and the modification is (or is to be) of no effect in so far as it is subject to the direction.