Feature / Technical round-up

PBR update – reference costs – maternity – overseas visitors

The latest payment by results (PBR) update from the Department of Health includes information on mental health PBR and the new maternity pathway payment system. The Department is encouraging trusts to use the maternity payment system in shadow form this year, in anticipation that it will become mandatory in 2013/14.

The Department of Health has also published a questions and answers document about payment by results (PBR) in 2012/13. This gives responses to feedback received during the road test, answers questions that could not be addressed when the PBR guidance was issued in February and feedback at the HFMA PBR event in March. Topics addressed include emergency readmissions, marginal rate and best practice tariffs.

An addendum to the 2011/12 reference costs guidance for cystic fibrosis specialist centres has been issued by the Department of Health. The addendum clarifies the guidance on reference cost collection where paediatric shared care agreements are in place.

The Department of Health has invited foundation trusts, NHS trusts, commissioners and others to submit feedback on their experiences on the shadow year of the maternity payment by results (PBR) pathway payment system. They have also been asked for evidence of the impact of introducing the system. The deadline for submissions is 24 August.

Updated guidance on charging for the care of overseas visitors has been published by the Department of Health. The update includes some changes to the guidance issued in December 2011 on sharing data with the UK Border Agency. The guidance also sets out the evidence needed for those involved in the Olympics and Paralympics to claim free NHS hospital treatment.

Clinical commissioning groups have been offered a learning and support tool to help in the run-up to authorisation. The NHS Commissioning Board tool, which signposts key learning and development opportunities, is organised by the six authorisation domains, including domain 3 (clear and credible plans that continue QIPP delivery) and domain 4 (constitutional and governance arrangements).

The 2011/12 programme budgeting guidance is now available from the Department of Health. As well as the final mapping document, a draft version of the PFR4 workbook (including sense check validations) and the ambulance expenditure workbook are also available by following the link below.

The Department of Health has set out the key actions primary care trusts should take in the run-up to the transfer of property to successor bodies. A letter from NHS deputy chief executive David Flory says there are four key steps before the transfer on 31 March next year, including identifying all assets, charges, rights and liabilities that will be transferred.