Since the release of the 2011 NHI Green Paper (1) considerable debate and analysis has occurred regarding the politics and economics of the proposed scheme. However, relatively little attention has been paid to the important role played by frontline providers tasked with implementing the reforms, and whose services the scheme will rely on in order to function on the ground. In particular, the ‘contracting in’ of private sector general practitioners (GPs) into the public health services is a key aspect of the NHI which deserves more attention.