MPs not aware of proposed changes to financing hospitals

The idea for the repeal of the current financing method of clinical establishments via 'clinical pathways' in 2012, leaving hospitals solely state-subsidised was not discussed with the parliamentary group of GERB (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria), stated yesterday before Darik radio, the Chairwoman of the Health Care Committee with the National Assembly, Desislava Atanasova. In her words, there was a political decision on the introduction of the Diagnostic Related Groups system, but not on the manner in which this would happen.

According to Doctor Boyko Penkov, from the International Healthcare and Health Insurance Institute (IHHII), the expenditures for hospital care would increase from 7% to 30%, after the introduction of the DRGs system

On April 9, the Health Minister, Stefan Konstantinov proposed the idea that 2012 be a transition year whereby medical establishments would not submit reports based on the clinical  pathways, but rather receive fixed budgets. In his words, it was possible to test the DRGs system in several medical establishments across Bulgaria including municipal, university hospitals and etc.

Similar to this year, hospitals would operate with fixed budgets based on the general patients' outflow, the number of clinical pathways etc. According to the Health Ministry, under these budgets, however, hospitals would have greater freedom to treat patients. Konstantinov explained that the clinical pathways would remain as an algorithm for treatment depending on the preference of the doctors. In the opinion of specialists, however, if unnecessary the application of the full range of activities could be avoided or additional activities set in the the DRGs could be applied. Experts commented, however, that there was still no clarity on the kind of incentives for hospitals to perform more activities than set within the clinical pathway, having in mind the budget constraints.

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