Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Delaying the implementation of Payment by Results in mental health: the application of standardisation

Shaw, Ian

Authors

IAN SHAW IAN.SHAW@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Health Policy



Abstract

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to explore the issues surrounding a long planned expansion of Payment by Results (PbR) into mental health services and to highlight the factors responsible for the delay.

Design/methodology/approach
– PbR relies upon “standardisation” of conditions and treatments. This depends upon a scheme of classification that can realistically predict resources required to execute treatment of any one case. Plans to fund NHS mental health services on the basis of tariffs derived in this way have been delayed, and a key reason is the lack of high-quality data. This would require effective “standardisation-to the-average” of both a system of classification and a repertoire of costed treatment pathways. This paper investigated the delay implementation by exploring the difficulties in applying standardisation principles to service provision and tariff calculation.

Findings
– The paper identified the fundamental difficulty with PbR’s implementation in applying “standardisation” to practice. This is defining the mental disorder that the patient is suffering and designing care pathways at clinical level considering the balance between practical applicability and conceptual/constructional validity. This is necessary to enable the calculation of a national tariff. The conceptual flaws of the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale led to the constructional shortcomings which compromised the credibility and validity of Mental Health Clustering Tool regarding making accurate classification in a standardised way. The validity and credibility of calculating a national tariff thus became contentious on the basis of this inaccurate clinical classification system.

Originality/value
– This paper explored the driving factors of delay in implementing PbR in mental health through connecting the recent reform with the fundamental assumptions of “standardisation-to the-average”, which provided another perspective to illustrate the current obstacles.

Citation

Shaw, I. (2015). Delaying the implementation of Payment by Results in mental health: the application of standardisation. Mental Health Review Journal, 20(3), https://doi.org/10.1108/MHRJ-03-2014-0008

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jun 15, 2015
Publication Date Sep 22, 2015
Deposit Date Jun 28, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Mental Health Review Journal
Print ISSN 1361-9322
Electronic ISSN 2042-8758
Publisher Emerald
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 20
Issue 3
DOI https://doi.org/10.1108/MHRJ-03-2014-0008
Keywords Mental health services, Standardisation, Delay, Payment by Results
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/760770
Publisher URL http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/MHRJ-03-2014-0008

Files





You might also like



Downloadable Citations