Table 4 Introduction and development of best practice tariffs

2010/11

Cataracts

Aims to reduce the number of times patients are assessed before and after surgery by setting a price for the whole pathway rather than pricing each spell of activity; the pathway should be in line with recommendations provided by Royal College of Ophthalmologists

Cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal)

Encourages keyhole surgery in a day case setting where clinically appropriate

Fragility hip fracture

Makes an additional payment for providing rapid surgery and orthogeriatric care

Stroke

Makes additional payments for urgent brain imaging and care in an acute stroke unit.

2011/12

Adult renal dialysis

Aims to improve care for patients undergoing haemodialysis

Day case procedures

Encourages providers to increase their day case rates in a number of surgical procedures including hernia repair and prostate resection; by 2014/15 fifteen high volume procedures are included in the tariff.

Interventional radiology

Incentivises use of minimally invasive techniques rather than open surgery where clinically appropriate; in 2014/15 seven procedures are included in the Best Practice Tariff programme

Paediatric diabetes

Aims to improve quality of diabetes care; from 2014 includes also inpatient stays for young people with diabetes

Primary total hip and knee replacements

Encourages best clinical management of patients and reductions in length of stay

Transient ischaemic attack (or mini-stroke)

Paid for timely and effective outpatient systems for treating patients with TIA

2012/13

Major trauma

Encourages best practice treatment and management of trauma patients within a regional trauma network; in 2014/15 there was a change in best practice criteria

Same day emergency care

Promotes management of 12 clinical scenarios on a same day basis in an ambulatory emergency care manner

Procedures in outpatients

Encourages three procedures (diagnostic cystoscopy, diagnostic hysteroscopy and hysteroscopic sterilisation ) to be performed in an outpatient setting

Paediatric diabetes

Applies to providers who provide services in accordance with the best practice specification

2013/14

Early inflammatory arthritis

Services must meet four criteria, dealing with early referral and treatment start as well as regular subsequent appointments

Endoscopy procedures

Encourages providers to meet quality standards in line with the |Joint Advisory Group accreditation scheme for endoscopy services.

Paediatric epilepsy

Intended for follow up appointments

Parkinson’s disease

Aims to reduce waiting time for treatment

Pleural effusions

Applies to unilateral effusions and increasing use of thoracic ultrasound.

2014/15

Hip and knee replacement

Payments linked to patient reported outcome measures (PROMs)