The National Casemix Office (NCO) designs and refines classifications that are used by the English NHS to describe healthcare ACTIVITY. These classifications underpin the National Tariff Payment System from costing through to payment, and support local commissioning and performance management.

The National Casemix Office enables the NHS to:

• support ACTIVITY costing: to inform the National Tariff Payment System processes
• report on PATIENT ACTIVITY information: to ensure that providers are paid for the SERVICES they deliver
• provide information: to support epidemiological studies and service planning
• enable providers and commissioners to use HRGs to benchmark and performance manage.

For further information on the National Casemix Office, see the NHS England website at: National Casemix Office.