In brief

• The Ministry of Health is proposing changes to NFZ tender scoring to favor facilities in the hospital care security scheme.
• Providers in the security scheme will gain 10 extra points in NFZ competitions.
• The regulation covers procedures such as ophthalmic and orthopaedic treatments performed in one day.
• The draft is currently in public consultation, with no final effective date set.

Extra Points for Security Scheme Participants

The Ministry of Health is developing a regulation that alters how the National Health Fund assesses bids from healthcare facilities seeking contracts. Under the proposed rules, institutions included in the hospital care security scheme will receive 10 bonus points during NFZ competitions (Zabiegi okulistyczne i ortopedyczne na NFZ. Te placówki mają dostać przewagę – GazetaPrawna.pl) (10 punktów za lokalizację szpitala. Ministerstwo chce zmienić zasady konkursów NFZ – portalsamorzadowy.pl). The scheme is part of a broader health needs map used to plan patient access to medical treatment.

Procedures Covered by the Proposal

The draft addresses ophthalmic and orthopaedic procedures performed in a one-day format. The changes apply to hospitals, day wards and one-day surgery units when contracts are awarded (NFZ zmieni zasady kontraktowania szpitali. Nowe kryteria i punkty – Bankier.pl). The ministry says the new criteria are meant to replace outdated requirements and correct the current scoring system (Resort zdrowia zmienia zasady konkursów dla szpitali. Większe szanse dla placówek ze schematu zabezpieczenia – gazetaprawna.pl).

Additional Criteria for Specific Patient Groups

Another element of the draft involves allocating beds for patients with obesity, for which additional points will also be granted (Nowe kryteria w konkursach NFZ. Dodatkowe punkty za łóżka dla pacjentów z otyłością – rynekzdrowia.pl). Officials said the changes are intended to improve access to necessary procedures, but they have not guaranteed shorter waiting times.

Project Status and Consultation

Local governments and hospital operators are expected to comment on the proposal before it is finalized.