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Using the Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) payment framework (with addendum for 2010/11)

Update 21 December 2009:

The Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) payment framework makes a proportion of providers’ income conditional on quality and innovation.  This original guidance, published in 2008, introduced the CQUIN payment framework in context.  It describes the framework, setting out the timetable and scope, before explaining the content that local schemes should cover, how the framework is funded, an outline of how the process for using the framework might work, and the support and assurance for local schemes.

For 2010/11, this guidance is supplemented by an addendum, and should be read in the context of the NHS Operating Framework for 2010/11 and the national standard contracts for acute, ambulance, community, mental health and learning disability services. These contracts require commissioners to make 1.5% of contract value available for providers to earn if they achieve locally agreed quality improvement and innovation goals and, for acute providers, two national goals.

• Download Using the CQUIN payment framework - an addendum to the policy guidance for 2010/11 (PDF, 282K)
• Download Using the Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) payment framework - 2008 guidance (PDF, 456K)
• Download impact assessment (PDF, 638K)