Practice-based commissioning is a policy that aims to give more influence and control to GP practices in England over how money is spent on health care services. At the moment, the bulk of NHS money is allocated to primary care trusts (PCTs) who then commission and reimburse hospitals (and other health care providers) for the services used by their local populations, and pay GP practices for the services they deliver to patients. This briefing explains more of the background to this policy.