The new edition sets out the arrangements that need to be put in place ahead of the introduction of the new maternity pathway tariffs in 2013/14.
It has been produced by the RCM in conjunction with the DH, RCOG and the Healthcare Financial Management Association.
PbR is a payment per patient funding method in which providers are due a payment each time they provide care for a client.
It replaces other funding methods such as block contracts, which often provided fixed budgets irrespective of patient numbers or differences in patient complexity.
PbR was introduced in 2003 for some elements of elective care and has since expanded to cover many other healthcare services.
It is now the main funding mechanism between providers and commissioners of NHS care in England.
Under the new system, a commissioner will pay a provider for all the pregnancy-related care a woman may need for the duration of her pregnancy, birth and postnatal care.
In general, there will be no further payments for individual elements of activity, although there are a small number of clearly identified exceptions.
Each lead provider retains full responsibility for how they deliver care for their women, while commissioners will judge providers solely on how well they have delivered their overall service.
The aim is to encourage proactive care and prevention, rather than reaction.
This ‘single payment’ approach contrasts with the current PbR mechanism, where each intervention or hospital attendance triggers additional payments.
For more information, and to download the guide, please
click here.
