Skip to main content
11-07-2022

Care at home – number of services increased 2.5 times

Iliustracija

Now the process of outpatient care services at home will be faster and more convenient for patients, plus the number of the services provided will be nearly two and a half times larger. According to the procedure of service provision, the decision to prescribe outpatient care services will not be related to the level of disability of the resident or his/her special needs, but rather on individual care needs and actual conditions, which will be evaluated based on a special questionnaire.

This means that the new procedure will enable to ensure that the above-mentioned services are provided to those, who have not received them before due to no established disability or special need for consistent nursing and care (assistance).

Please note that as of 1 July the maximum number of care services at home per year, covered from the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (CHIF) for the most serious patients, has been increased by as much as 2.5 times – from 104 to 260 services that can be used 5 times per week. The number of services for patients with an average need was increased 1.5 times – up to 156 services per year, distributed 3 times per week. Meanwhile, upon making a rational assessment of the average number of services, provided to patients with small service needs, the number was decreased to 52 reimbursed services per year. Thus, claims of patients deprived of care services at home are misleading and unfounded.

It should also be emphasized that the care services at home will not be provided by social care institutions that hold a general care practice license, i.e. must provide care services for residents by the order of the Minister of Social Security and Labour. Persons, hosted at social care institutions should not be worried about the changes as they will continue to be cared for by the care staff and will receive all the necessary services.

The Ministry of Health is kindly reminding that, to this day, outpatient care services were prescribed to patients, diagnosed with a disability or special needs by the Disability and Working Capacity Assessment Office.

Moreover, there is also a new option for care services at home for patients after day surgeries, when they are discharged from hospital on the same day and need post-operative care immediately. They will receive these services based on the prescription of their general physician, who will consider the need for the care services at home based on the type of the day surgery and not based on the questionnaire.

Press Service of the Ministry of Health

(Piktochart pict.)

The NHIF invites you:

Your questions are welcome by email[email protected]or phone: local (8 5) 232 2222, international +370 5 232 22

Last updated: 20-07-2022

Related news:

Health budget in 2025: what benefits did we receive?

The right to be informed: what is important to know about reimbursable healthcare

Tens of millions of euros for residents’ health: for whom and how are medication co-payments covered?

Study reveals: a family doctor’s advice determines the decision to get checked

Unexpected ailments during the holidays: where to turn and what to know