Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is NHS funding that covers the full cost of care, including accommodation, for people with a primary health need arising from disability, accident or illness. Funded Nursing Care (FNC) is a smaller, standard NHS contribution towards the cost of nursing care for people in a care home who do not qualify for full CHC funding but do have an assessed nursing need.
How CHC and FNC work
Eligibility for CHC is assessed by the NHS, usually starting with a Checklist screening tool, followed by a full multi-disciplinary assessment using the Decision Support Tool if the checklist suggests further review is needed. CHC funding covers the full cost of care regardless of setting, whether that is a care home or the person's own home, while FNC is a fixed weekly rate paid directly to the care home for the registered nursing element of a resident's care. Both are reviewed periodically, and care providers need to track which residents receive each funding type alongside other routes such as local authority funding or self-funding, since it affects how a resident's care plan is billed and reported.
How UK care providers manage CHC and FNC
- A care home works with the NHS to arrange a Continuing Healthcare assessment for a resident whose health needs have increased significantly, since CHC funding would cover their full care costs rather than the resident self-funding.
- A nursing home receives the Funded Nursing Care weekly rate directly from the NHS for a resident who has an assessed nursing need but does not meet the threshold for full CHC funding.
- A care provider tracks which residents are funded through CHC, FNC, local authority funding or self-funding, since each funding route has different billing, review and reporting requirements.
- A family challenges a CHC eligibility decision through the NHS appeals process after their relative was assessed as not meeting the primary health need threshold.
How Advantage supports funding management for care providers
Advantage's EdgeCare accelerator helps care providers track which residents are funded through CHC, FNC, local authority contracts or self-funding within Dynamics 365, keeping billing, reviews and occupancy reporting aligned to each resident's actual funding route.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between CHC and FNC?
CHC covers the full cost of care for people with a primary health need, while FNC is a smaller, fixed weekly NHS contribution towards nursing care costs for residents who have an assessed nursing need but do not qualify for full CHC.
Who assesses eligibility for CHC?
The NHS carries out the assessment, typically starting with a Checklist screening tool followed by a full assessment using the Decision Support Tool if the checklist indicates a need for further review.
Does receiving FNC mean a resident will also get CHC?
No. FNC and CHC are assessed separately, and a resident can receive FNC without qualifying for the higher threshold required for full CHC funding.
