MEPs have strengthened the solidarity system among patients. With the approval of the so-called small amendment to the Health Insurance Act, new parameters have been included in the redistribution process, which can better capture the anticipated future healthcare costs.
The regulation updates the current levy allocation mechanism to be able to react flexibly to the differences in the cost of insured persons, so that money in the system is channelled where it is needed. We cannot allow a sharp increase in costs for one group of patients to hit an imaginary ceiling and healthcare providers or health insurance companies to get into a complicated situation, said Vladimir Lengvarsky, Minister of Health. The system of redistribution of premiums does not change itself. Thanks to the mechanism, part of the selected health contributions are redistributed in solidarity between insurance companies in order to be able to pay for healthcare also for more at risk patients. The system is already operating for almost three decades as a stabilising element in the public health insurance system. However, the amendment adjusts the change in the basis of monthly redistribution from 95 percent to 96 percent.
The increase is based on detailed analytical work and expert discussions. At the same time, new variables, such as the consumption of medical devices, are also introduced in the calculation of redistribution. As a result, the system can more accurately segment groups of insured persons and thus address the use of health contributions more precisely, adds Vladimir Lengvarsky.
In addition to making more effective use of health levies, the Ministry is also working to establish a new fairer system for financing health operations. That is why last year, the implementation agenda for the DRG scheme was taken over under its structure, which will replace the current flat-rate compensation.