Payment by results in mental health: The current state of play in England

Abstract

The Department of Health is introducing a 'payment by results' system. for mental health services in the UK. The system is already being used in the acute healthcare sector, but is still under development for application in mental healthcare. This article outlines the concept of payment by results, briefly reports on its use in other countries and describes the pilot study underway in England to define currencies to be used in a payment by results system planned for NHS mental healthcare throughout England and Wales.