The NTPF arranges treatments for patients, provides independently assured waiting list information, develops systems and processes which contribute to health system reform, negotiates prices for nursing home care, and provides expert advice to the Minister for Health.
Contract Management
The National Treatment Purchase Fund Board (NTPF) is the designated body to agree maximum prices with private and voluntary nursing homes for the purpose of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS).
The NTPF has a specific remit within the NHSS which is to negotiate prices with private and voluntary nursing homes on behalf of the State.
As part of this function, the NTPF negotiates and enters into pricing agreements with HIQA-registered private and voluntary nursing homes, to agree and record the maximum price they can charge residents in receipt of funding under the Scheme. The NTPF provides details of pricing agreements to the HSE, which holds and publishes a list of publicly available ‘approved nursing homes’ under the Scheme.
Details of approved homes can be found on the HSE website About the Fair Deal scheme – HSE.ie
The following table gives an overview of the steps in the contract negotiation process.
| Step 1 | Renewal pack & Application form | The NTPF will send out renewal pack in advance of deed expiration. Nursing Homes (NH) can apply for renewal pack or application forms by emailing section40@ntpf.ie |
| Step 2 | NHs complete renewal packs & application form | NHs provide requested information, complete the application form and return to NTPF via email. |
| Step 3 | Renewal packs received by NTPF | Renewal pack received and reviewed for completeness. Any incomplete packs will be returned to the NH. |
| Step 4 | Negotiations | Once the renewal pack is returned complete, the Contract Manager engages with the NH in the negotiation process to agree a new price. |
| Step 5 | Deed issued | On agreement of a new price the deed is issued from the NTPF to the NH. The NHs sign and return to the NTPF. |
Nursing Homes can contact the NTPF’s Contract Management Team for support at any stage of the process: section40@ntpf.ie