The representatives of the Association of Romanian Independent Practice Medical Specialists are unhappy with the draft government decision made public by the National Healthcare Insurance Office (CNAS) as part of the decisional transparency procedure, which provides that the pricing point for outpatient medical services shall remain RON 5 per service in the first quarter of 2025.
The previous week, the CNAS put up for public consultation a draft government decision which stipulates that in the first quarter of 2025, the guaranteed values of ‘per capita’ and ‘per medical service’ pricing points are kept in line with 2024 levels.
„Regarding the proposal to maintain in the first quarter of 2025 the pricing point per medical service at RON 5 for outpatient specialist services, similar to the amount set for Q4 2024, we consider that this will maintain a major chronic underfunding and runs counter to the current economic and financial situation, with the need for financial sustainability and predictability for independent practice offices,” the Association said in a release.
According to the cited source, the expected significant increases in fees and taxes in 2025, implicitly charged on the providers of free medical services and on those under contract with CNAS, will soon make it impossible to maintain an adequate level of medical services, without a substantial increase in the funding thereof.
„Increasing the minimum wage by 10%, putting up the VAT with the cascading increase of all prices and implicitly of medical office expenses, the increase of taxes for Individual Medical Practices and Sole Proprietorships from 10% to 16%, which will result in a 60 percent rise of the fiscal burden, the reduction of the ceiling for private limited liability companies, along with the increase of the profit tax from 3% to 16%, all these will have a strong negative impact on the specialist outpatient medical activity, the natural consequence affecting the patients who will no longer be able to benefit quickly, efficiently and free of charge in pre-hospital outpatient offices of highly qualified specialized medical services,” the doctors argue.
„It is high time to admit and accept that without adequate financing of the pre-hospital medical pillar, the continuity and access of patients to specialist medical care are in real danger,” the release states.
The Association of Romanian Independent Practice Medical Specialists demands „real” negotiations with CNAS and the identification of quick, efficient and appropriate solutions for this crucially important problem of the healthcare system.
AGERPRES
