site.btaNational Health Insurance Fund Will Not Sign 2015 National Framework Agreement

National Health Insurance Fund Will Not Sign 2015 National Framework Agreement


Sofia, December 23 (BTA) - The National Health Insurance Fund
(NHIF) will not sign the proposed 2015 National Framework
Agreement, NHIF Director Roumyana Todorova said after a meeting
of the Fund's Supervisory Board on Tuesday.

Four of the Supervisory Board members voted against the signing
of the agreement, and three (representing the State) voted in
favour. All members, though, opposed the proposal of the
Bulgarian Medical Association (BMA) for an increase of the
prices of some medical activities because the higher prices will
result in a reduction of the quantities, which will be
detrimental to patients because a smaller number of referrals
will be available, Dr Todorova explained. "Besides this, if the
BMA-proposed prices are accepted, the NHIF will run a 12 million
leva deficit in off-hospital care," she added.

Under the law, the NHIF has the right to fix the prices and
quantities of medical activities on its own. "After consulting
the ministers of finance and health, the NHIF Supervisory Board
adopts a decision which is sent to the Council of Ministers for
the issuing of a decree," the Director recalled.

She stressed that she has no voting power at the Supervisory
Board. Owing to previous engagements, the Board's Chairman Kiril
Ananiev was unable to meet the media.