Aligning policy objectives and payment design in palliative care

BACKGROUND: Payment models for palliative care vary across nations, with few adopting contemporary payments designs that apply to other parts of the health system. AIM: To propose optimal payment arrangements for palliative care. APPROACH: Review of relevant literature on funding mechanisms in health care generally and palliative care in particular. RESULTS: Payment models for palliative care should move toward activity-based funding using an agreed classification, be uncapped funding with performance monitoring, and make explicit use of performance metrics and reporting. CONCLUSIONS: If palliative care is to become a universally accessible service, new approaches to funding, based on the experience of funding reforms in other parts of the health system, need to be adopted.