HSJ Intelligence briefing 12 February 2020 [Subscription required]
Extract:
Specialist commissioning
Specialist commissioning
- NHS England is already in the process of devolving some of its specialised commissioning responsibilities for mental health to groups of NHS providers. It is looking at extending this approach to physical health services.
- The first contracts to be devolved to ICSs could be for kidney dialysis as well as parts of cancer treatment. However, ICSs are resistant to taking on these responsibilities until NHSE can quantify the need within the local populations, as otherwise it is felt the financial risk is too great.
- However, if this tension is to be resolved in 2020, it may need NHSE to initially share the financial risk with ICSs.
- In its 2020-21 planning guidance, NHSE announced its intention to review how payments for specialised commissioning are designed and implemented.
- It also now expects specialised commissioning income plans for ICSs to be closer aligned with NHSE specialised commissioning budgets. Local systems will likely have to change the way they deliver services to drive the specialised commissioning efficiencies needed.
- This may well see increased consolidation of specialised commissioning services on a reduced number of sites.
