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11-08-2023

The proposal to spend over EUR 20 million more than agreed to pay for healthcare services was approved

Iliustracija

The Compulsory Health Insurance Council (CHIC) has approved the allocation of EUR 23.6 million from the risk management part of the reserve of the budget of the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (CHIF) to reimburse the provision of medical rehabilitation and sanatorium treatment services, which is more than the number provided for in the current year’s contracts, as well as to pay for an increase in the number of orthopaedic technical devices, and to cover the cost of health care services for the population who have been examined in the framework of the programmes of preventive care, and who have had to have prosthetic teeth.

A total of EUR 3.8 million will go to healthcare institutions providing medical rehabilitation and sanatorium treatment services provided in the first half of the year. During this period, the number of medical rehabilitation services provided to the population exceeded the contracted amount, and it was therefore decided to allocate funds from the risk management part of the CHIF budget reserve to cover these services. The aim is to ensure that the institutions are paid for the services actually provided and that patients continue to receive all the services they need. 

The volume of outpatient medical rehabilitation services provided in the first half of this year has increased by more than 16% compared to the same period last year, and the majority of the allocated funds will be used to pay for the increase in this type of rehabilitation services. The number of priority inpatient medical rehabilitation services has also increased and additional funding for this type of rehabilitation will be considered in autumn. Priority inpatient medical rehabilitation services are provided to particularly vulnerable groups of patients, such as those who have suffered a stroke, heart attack, endoprosthetic surgery, oncological diseases etc. 

A total of EUR 2.6 million has been allocated for orthopaedic technical equipment to cover the cost of prosthetic limbs, custom-made complex orthopaedic footwear, and hearing aids for priority orthopaedic technical equipment. 

There is a significant need for additional funds to purchase complex orthopaedic footwear. Over 1 000 people are waiting to order this type of footwear. The need for additional funds is expected to amount to around EUR 170 thousand by the end of the year. 

A total of EUR 4.9 million has been allocated for health services provided through five CHIF-funded prevention programmes. The number of these services has increased significantly this year. The most significant increases were in the services provided under the cardiovascular and prostate cancer prevention programmes. In 2023, EUR 34.4 million has been allocated for health services provided under preventive programmes, but it is estimated that EUR 39.3 million will be needed to pay for these services. The CHIF’s available funds are insufficient to cover the overrun, and it has been decided to allocate additional funds from the CHIF’s share of the reserve in order to ensure that all services actually provided are paid in time to the facilities. 

It is estimated that currently there are more than 1.4 million people in Lithuania who are eligible for CHIF-reimbursed services under the prevention programmes, meaning free screening for cervical, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. 

Preventing the disease in time preserves a person’s health and ability to work, eliminates the need to seek further treatment from specialists, saves doctors’ time and avoids higher treatment costs. 

An additional EUR 12.3 million was spent on dental prosthetics. The number of dentures provided this year and the need for funds to pay for these services is also higher. It is estimated that a total of almost EUR 60.5 million will be used to pay for these services this year. 

The CHIF risk management part of the reserve is allocated by a decision of the Minister of Health, after taking into account the opinion of the National Health Insurance Fund and the Compulsory Health Insurance Council. 

(Freepik photo)

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Last updated: 04-09-2023

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