No plans to restrict reimbursement of medical expenses for private health care

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Reimbursements of medical expenses will be available for private doctor's fees and treatment/examination charges even after the so-called "treatment guarantee" has entered into force at the beginning of March.
     
According to Director Mikael Forss of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (KELA), there are no plans to limit these reimbursements, as doctors are believed to be able to evaluate the need for treatment.
      However, the issue will be discussed in the socio-medical affairs committee of KELA at the end of the current month. The question is whether the reimbursement should be subject to some kind of priority assessment as regards the need for treatment, in the same way as in the forthcoming treatment guarantee.
     
The idea behind the treatment guarantee is to ensure all patients throughout the country equal access to treatment within six months or less by prioritising among different health problems. Hence the need for treatment for varicose veins, glaucoma, or a hip disorder is easily regarded as less vital than for example for heart diseases.
      Currently, there are not enough resources to provide treatment for all those in need and the waiting time for treatment varies depending on where a person lives in Finland.
     
All Finnish municipalities are responsible for practical implementation of statutory services, which are either provided by the local authorities themselves or purchased from the private sector.
      Private health centres are already now offering services to patients who will not be eligible for the six-month rule.
     
In 2003, a total of about EUR 65.5 million was paid as reimbursements of medical expenses for private doctor's fees and treatment/examination charges by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (KELA). The compensation was some 30% of the doctor's invoice.
      In Finland, the number of doctors in private practice is close to 1,600, while the total number of practising physicians is about 15,500. Moreover, about 4,600 doctors who work in the public sector have a part-time private practice as well.
      According to an OECD study on 21 countries, Finland heads the list of countries where money brings better health care. In addition to having better access to private doctors and occupational health services, Finns with high incomes were also found to use public health services more than others.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Number of doctors and nurses is going up while number of patients is declining (14.2.2005)
  Hospitals fear nurse shortage may make treatment guarantee impossible to implement (8.9.2004)

Links:
  The Social Insurance Institution of Finland (KELA)

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