How will we know if integrated care systems reduce demand for urgent care? Establishing fair benchmark levels for the blended payment system

How will we know if integrated care systems reduce demand for urgent care? Establishing fair benchmark levels for the blended payment system For the 2019/20 financial year the National Tariff Payment System (NTPS) for emergency care moved from a fee-for service arrangement to a blended payment system. The blended system encourages the provider to moderate activity growth by providing financial incentives for effective demand management. However there is currently scant detail surrounding crucial aspects of the NTPS scheme. Failure to address this issue may not only lead to the inappropriate distribution of resources across the health system; it could result in tens of millions of pounds being diverted away from urgent care. The Strategy Unit