In July 2016, NHS England published the Multispecialty Community Providers (MCP) emerging care model and contract framework. As well as describing the MCP care model in more detail, it introduced the MCP contract and business model that underpins it. An initial draft version of the MCP contract was published in December 2016 for a period of public engagement and information feedback.

Following this feedback, the draft version of the MCP contract was amended and it has been re-published as an Accountable Care Organisation (ACO) contract; it can be used for accountable care models generally, including MCP and Integrated Primary and Acute Care Systems (PACS) models. Where contracted appropriately, organisations delivering both the MCP and PACS care models could be ACOs. The ACO contract and supporting documents have been created for use by local commissioners to inform the early stages of their procurement processes.

The ACO contract has been published by NHS England alongside, Integrating care: contracting for accountable models, which provides an overview of the contract and the associated package of supporting documents which clarify how accountable models may be contracted for. This PSNC Briefing summarises the elements of the publication that will be of most relevance and interest to Local Pharmaceutical Committees.

PSNC Briefing 059/17: Integrating care: contracting for accountable models NHS

If you have any queries on this PSNC Briefing or you require more information, please contact Zainab Al-Kharsan, Service Development Pharmacist.

To browse other PSNC briefings on the healthcare landscape click here.