On 17 September 2020 NHS England published an updated version of the Network Contract DES 2020/21, introducing a new incentive scheme, the Investment and Impact Fund (IIF).
The IIF is designed to reward PCNs for playing a leading role in raising the profile of preventative care within the NHS and in tackling health inequalities more directly and proactively. PCNs will also be rewarded for being at the forefront of initiatives to improve care quality and patient safety and for supporting an environmentally and financially sustainable NHS.
In 2020/21, the IIF will run for six months, from 1 October 2020 until 31 March 2021. The IIF will be worth £24.25 million in 2020/21, rising to at least £150 million in 2021/22, £225 million in 2022/23 and £300 million in 2023/24.
Key elements of the IIF
The IIF operates in a similar way to QOF, albeit with calculation of achievement at the network level rather than practice level. It is divided into two domains: (i) prevention and tackling health inequalities and (ii) providing high quality care. Each domain contains areas, which in turn contain indicators on which performance is being incentivised. There is a total of 6 indicators.
The IIF is a points based scheme with each PCN being able to earn a maximum number of IIF points. Each point has a monetary value and each indicator is worth an agreed number of points.
The PCNs will also be able to monitor their indicative performance against IIF indicators on a new Network Dashboard, which will be available through an online platform. This will enable every PCN to see the benefits it is achieving for its patients, with performance against each IIF indicator available quarterly by PCN and constituent practice from autumn 2020.
The updated Network Contract DES specification is available here.
DAC Beachcroft advises national and local commissioners and providers on all aspects of primary care contracting. To speak to a member of our primary care team, contact Charlotte Burnett on 0113 251 4785 or ckburnett@dacbeachcroft.com, Hamza Drabu on 020 7894 6411 or hdrabu@dacbeachcroft.com, Chris Waite on 0113 251 4739 or cwaite@dacbeachcroft.com or Margarita Petai on 0113 251 4961 or mpetai@dacbeachcroft.com.
