Payment-by-results system for NHS mental health services proposed by Department of Health

The Department of Health will publish proposals for a payment-by-results (PbR) system for NHS mental health services in the autumn.

In a newsletter published today , the DH said 22 mental health organisations in England were involved in collecting anonymised patient data for the project.

Under payment by results, health providers are paid for the amount of work they carry out based on a system of tariffs for different types of work.

This is a change from the traditional system of NHS funding, where services were commissioned through block agreements.

The DH also said it was looking at whether it was “possible, practical and desired” to include social care for mental health care in its proposals.

This could include trying to cost the social care element of services delivered by mental health organisations to allow commissioners to choose whether to “uncouple” social care and health costs or pool them together.

The DH said it would make a final decision on next steps in January 2007.

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