The national agreement between dentists and health insurance funds has insufficient support. This threatens an impasse and higher rates.
The rates that doctors, dentists, physiotherapists, speech therapists and midwives may charge are laid down in agreements and agreements with the Insurance Committee of the Riziv. A ‘national agreement’ was reached on this at the end of last year. It establishes many crucial agreements between healthcare providers and health insurance funds and offers the patient certainty and a lower price.
Among doctors, a large majority of 86.26 percent indicated that they wanted to comply with this agreement, also called a convention. That is a comparable figure to recent years. The situation is different among dentists: only 56.97 percent of them agree with the convention, which was concluded by the national commission of dentists together with the health insurance funds. Because the 60 percent threshold has not been reached, the convention cannot enter into force. Minister of Social Affairs Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit) will soon consult with the sector about this.
Last time, just 60 percent of dentists agreed. The convention could then enter into force, but without five districts where the threshold was not reached. All those non-contracted dentists could therefore charge higher rates.
Speech therapists are willing
Among physiotherapists, 66.11 percent join the agreement, which is a few percentage points less than last year. The speech therapists reached 67.38 percent, an increase of more than 20 percentage points. There too, one in three is not contracted. The patient may then have to pay more himself.
If more than 60 percent of the professional group joins the agreement, the ‘-25 percent rule’ will apply from April 1, 2024: for healthcare providers who have not joined, the health insurance reimbursement will be 25 percent lower.
Only those who visit an affiliated healthcare provider are therefore assured of the lowest rate. This reduced reimbursement does not apply to care provided to people with increased reimbursement. (jst, vbl)
