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08-09-2023

The health insurance funds: how to rent a medical aid necessary for a patient?

Iliustracija

Currently, chronically ill patients covered by compulsory health insurance can rent and use oxygen and artificial lung ventilation apparatus, simple or “smart” insulin pumps and infusion pumps, known as pain pumps, at home. This year, Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (CHIF) will provide over EUR 9 million for medical devices needed for healthcare at home.

“Medical devices are used at home by more than 2400 patients now. This makes life much easier for seriously ill patients, who no longer have to stay in a hospital just to have access to expensive equipment they need,” Giedrius Baranauskas, head of Medical Devices Reimbursement Division of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) under the Ministry of Health, says.

Demand for expensive medical equipment rental is growing and funding has increased this year. Last year, EUR 8.5 million was allocated from the CHIF for this purpose, while this year EUR 9.3 million has already been allocated.

Insulin pumps are reimbursed by the health insurance funds for patients with type 1 diabetes, pregnant women and women planning to become pregnant (up to the period of one year, when diabetes is not controlled), also, to patients, who are on the waiting list for a pancreatic islet transplantation. More than 1000 patients, including over 600 children, are currently using them.

Oxygen therapy or continuous artificial lung ventilation is prescribed for patients diagnosed with chronic respiratory failure. Health insurance funds currently cover the cost of renting these devices for around 1400 patients, including around 100 children.

An infusion pump is prescribed for patients with tumour diagnosed, to provide continuous control of severe or unbearable chronic pain when oral or transdermal strong opioids fail to provide adequate control of such pain.

“Oncology patients in excruciating pain, who are unable to purchase infusion pumps on their own, can benefit from rental reimbursement to improve their quality of life,” G. Baranauskas says.

The cost of renting all these aids is 100% covered by the CHIF. Companies providing rental services and having contracts with the NHIF are obliged to ensure that insured persons are provided with rented medical devices without a premium due to technological peculiarities.

A consilium of doctors from the healthcare institution providing inpatient and outpatient health care services determines whether it is necessary for a patient to be treated at home with expensive medical devices.

The health insurance funds remind that patients who have opinion of a medical consilium should apply to companies that have a contract with the National Health Insurance Fund to reimburse them for the cost of renting medical equipment necessary for home healthcare. A selected company will sign a contract with a patient for the dispensing of the device, after-sales service, ongoing maintenance and the supply of spare parts.

For more information on renting medical devices and lists of companies that issue medical equipment, see here.

(Freepik photo)

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Last updated: 19-09-2023

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