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Longer-term agreements for health care services: what will they achieve?

Author

Listed:
  • Diane Dawson
  • Maria Goddard

    (Centre for Health Economics, The University of York)

Abstract

Government policy announced in the White Paper is to require purchasers and providers in the NHS to move from annual contracting cycles to longer-term contracts (agreements). It would appear the original arguments for this change came from the economics literature, suggesting longer-term contracts would help deal with problems of asset specificity, promotion of new entry and transactions cost. The Labour government emphasises longer-term contracting as a means of shifting the focus of purchaser provider relations from price and activity to quality of service and strategic planning. This Discussion Paper reports the results of research into the extent and nature of long-term contracting in the NHS. It is based on examination of contracts from a sample of six health authorities and their GP Fundholders, supplemented by interviews with individuals from these Health Authorities and Trusts who were involved in the contracting process. The paper considers the extent to which the problems identified in the theoretical literature on duration of contract are likely to be observed in the NHS and the extent to which it is likely a movement to longer-term contracting will achieve the benefits expected.

Suggested Citation

  • Diane Dawson & Maria Goddard, 1998. "Longer-term agreements for health care services: what will they achieve?," Working Papers 157chedp, Centre for Health Economics, University of York.
  • Handle: RePEc:chy:respap:157chedp
    as

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    File URL: http://www.york.ac.uk/media/che/documents/papers/discussionpapers/CHE%20Discussion%20Paper%20157.pdf
    File Function: First version, 1998
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    3. Chalkley, Martin & Malcomson, James M, 1996. "Contracts for the National Health Service," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 106(439), pages 1691-1701, November.
    4. De Fraja, Gianni & Hartley, Keith, 1996. "Defence Procurement: Theory and UK Policy," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 12(4), pages 70-88, Winter.
    5. Arrighetti, Alessandro & Bachmann, Reinhard & Deakin, Simon, 1997. "Contract Law, Social Norms and Inter-firm Cooperation," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 21(2), pages 171-195, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. JE Field & E Peck, 2004. "Concordat or contract," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 6(2), pages 253-272, June.

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    Keywords

    NHS contracts;

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