Two leading health organisations will discuss whether the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) should be eliminated in 2017.
The British Medical Association’s General Practice Committee (GPC) and NHS Employers have agreed to discuss ending QOF in the 2017/2018 GMS contract negotiations.
This comes after, in December 2015, the Scottish government announced their decision to scrap QOF, and phase it out from April 2016 until April 2017 – when an alternative payment scheme will replace it. All funding associated with the previous QOF system will transfer over to the core payment, ensuring there will be no reduction in the amount of money GP practices receive.
Shona Robison, Scottish health secretary said at the time: “While over the years QOF has delivered many innovations, its time has passed and we must now look to a new and different future for GPs.”
In England, the GPC and NHS Employers will discuss ending QOF, “amongst other possibilities,” it said in NHS Employers’ summary on the 2016/17 GMS contract negotiations.
For 2016/17, there will be no changes to the number of QOF points available, the clinical or public health domains or QOF thresholds.
The Contractor Population Index (CPI) will be adjusted to reflect the changes in list size and growth in the overall registered population for one year, from 1 January 2015 to 1 January 2016. The adjustment to CPI will inform an increase to the value of a QOF point for 2016/17.
The national average list size as of 1 January 2016 is 7,460 and the value of a QOF point for 2016/17 will be £165.18.
