The Government will set out measures to hand some patients control of their own healthcare budgets.
The plans, being outlined by Health Minister Lord Darzi, will involve patients receiving direct payments to spend on health services of their choice.
Lord Darzi first trailed the plans last year for 5,000 patients in his report on the future of the NHS.
It has been suggested that the payments would particularly benefit people with long-term conditions like Parkinson's or motor neurone disease, or those who use mental health services.
The measures will be set out in a new health Bill that will enable pilot sites to be established across England this year to test the idea.
The Department of Health said the pilots would "follow clear guidelines to safeguard the principles of the NHS".
But ministers have not ruled out extending the programme to other groups of patients who might benefit from tailoring services to their specific needs.
