Compulsory Health Insurance Fund Reserve: EUR 145 million for essential healthcare needs
The Compulsory Health Insurance Council has decided to approve the allocation of EUR 145.1 million from the risk management part of the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund’s budget reserve for the payment of personal health care services. The additional funds will be allocated to cover important needs in the health sector, such as higher rates for services, payment of over-contracted services, to reimburse costs for emergency department services to a greater extent, etc.
This year, until October, the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund’s budget revenue plan was not only met but exceeded. The annual budget revenue is expected to exceed the forecast by at least EUR 150 million.
“These reserve funds will allow for additional financing of the health care sector to ensure not only the continuity of services but also a sustainable increase in the salaries of health care workers,” says Gytis Bendorius, Director of the National Health Insurance Fund under the Ministry of Health.
Services will be charged at higher prices
EUR 32.1 million is proposed to cover services provided by medical institutions from 1 November of this year at indexed reference prices.
This decision will allow for an increase in the salaries of health care staff as early as January 2025. This was agreed in November this year, when the Ministry of Health and nine trade unions uniting medical professionals signed a new collective agreement of the branch of the Lithuanian National Health System (LNHS), which foresees an increase of around ten percent in the salaries of health care workers next year, as well as strengthening different social guarantees.
“Working conditions and motivation of our healthcare workers directly determine the quality of care that patients receive. By ensuring adequate increase of salary, we contribute to the long-term stability and efficiency of the healthcare sector,” Bendorius stresses.
Over-contracted services will be covered
A further EUR 54 million from the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund’s budget reserve is to be allocated to health care institutions for health care services provided this year and which are just planned to be provided and exceed contractual services. This reserve and the additional planned budget allocation will allow health care facilities to receive the statutory payment for services actually provided.
In the first three quarters of this year, services exceeding the contract amounted to EUR 105 million. Excess of contractual amounts is particularly high in the areas of medical rehabilitation (15.1%) and outpatient personal health care services (14.6%).
Additional injections for emergency medical aid
Up to EUR 54 million is proposed to reimburse this year for services provided by emergency medical aid departments, to medical institutions, that provide hospitalization services, to cover the costs incurred by medical institutions by providing these services.
For each case of active treatment, an additional EUR 52.55 will be paid to healthcare facilities for emergency care, observation and specialist services paid for by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund.
Focus on cross-border healthcare
EUR 5 million is proposed to reimburse cross-border healthcare, i.e. healthcare services provided to Lithuanian insured persons in other European countries in accordance with the regulations of the European Parliament and Council.
The recent increase in the number of insured persons using the European Health Insurance Card and moving to other European countries has led to an increasing demand for cross-border healthcare, which is why it is necessary to ensure compliance with obligations to pay for services rendered within the set deadlines.
The final decision on the allocation of the CHIF reserve is taken by the Minister for Health.
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Last updated: 06-01-2025
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