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31-03-2021

It is possible to choose not only your polyclinic

Iliustracija

The Panevėžys Territorial Health Insurance Fund (THIF) has recently received a number of questions from the population regarding the procedure of being registered for services at the primary personal health care institutions (PPHCI). Residents are interested in whether it is possible to choose a private family clinic, how often it is possible to change one's family doctor, in which institutions it is possible to receive mental health services, paid by the budget of the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (CHIF), etc.

Panevėžys THIF reminds the procedure of being registered for services at PPHCI.

Each person is free to choose a PPHCI closest to his place of residence or more easily accessible to him, including a medical institution providing primary outpatient mental health care (Mental health centre). A resident can also sign up to a private family clinic, health care centre and receive services paid from the CHIF if these institutions have concluded a contract with the THIF for the provision of services of a family doctor team. The mental health centre can only be selected from the primary outpatient mental health care institutions located in the municipality of the place of residence.

After choosing a PPHCI and a specific doctor (family doctor or internal disease doctor, child disease doctor), as well as a mental health centre and a psychiatrist (mental health care services may also be provided in the same PPHCI), the person (guardian) fills, signs and submits the established form of application for treatment in the selected medical institution. Requests for minors are signed by one of the parents, if there is no parent, the guardian signs them. For medical institutions, signatories must provide a document confirming the identity of the person, if the representative applies, he/she should present documents confirming their identity and representation.

During the quarantine, it is possible to be registered in medical institutions differently than usual: the signed scanned or photographed application form and a copy of the identity document can be sent to the institution by e-mail. This option applies only if an emergency or quarantine has been declared in the country or municipality in which the person resides and the person is unable to submit the application by other means specified. The completed original of the application form must be submitted to the medical institution to which it is recorded (directly on arrival, by post or by courier) within 30 calendar days (but not earlier than the end of the emergency or quarantine).

In the absence of quarantine and emergency, it is possible to sign up for a medical institution in one of the following ways:

  • upon arrival at the selected PPHCI or Mental health centre;
  • by submitting an application, signed with a verified (qualified) e-signature by the e-mail, provided by the institution;
  • via the e-government gateway or other electronic means to ensure identity verification, by connecting to the electronic interactive registry service of these institutions and completing the application and submitting it electronically;
  • by mail or by courier, accompanied by a copy of the identity document.

Upon receiving the application from a resident, the PPHCI must provide him with a list of medical institutions providing primary outpatient mental health care in that municipality. The patient chooses a medical institution from that list. In the event that a resident refuses to register in a specific Mental health centre or a psychiatrist, he is assigned to the medical institution providing primary outpatient mental health care with which the PPHCI has signed an agreement regarding the provision of services.

You can change the PPHCI or Mental health centre by applying to another selected medical institution. On the basis of such a request, a person is included in the list of registered residents of the newly selected institution, his personal health history (outpatient card) is transferred to the newly selected institution within 3 working days from the date of receipt of the application.

The PPHCI and Mental health centre may be changed no earlier than 6 months after the date of registering in the last one. The restriction does not apply to persons who have arrived at a stationary educational institution or who have returned to their permanent place of residence after graduation. If a medical institution is changed earlier than 6 months later, a fee of 2.90 Eur shall be paid for the processing of written documents and the forwarding of medical documents to the selected institution.

If the doctor terminates the employment relationship with the PPHCI, the administration of the institution must take care of the provision of services to the population. It appoints another doctor, unless the patient himself chooses otherwise. A patient wishing to be treated by a different doctor in the same medical institution must complete an application form.

It is noteworthy that the listed first-level services are provided free of charge to residents when they are insured by compulsory health insurance (CHI). This insurance provides a guarantee that the services provided will be paid by the budget of the CHIF.

If a person declares a departure from Lithuania, then returns after a while and declares his place of residence in Lithuania, he must get the CHI insurance and re-register in a Mental health centre. Persons who have reached the age of 18 must also be re-registered.

Panevėžys territorial health insurance fund

The NHIF invites you:

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

Last updated: 27-05-2021

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