So far, the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) has paid BGN 4.453 million for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. This was announced by the fund manager Prof. Petko Salchev.
4,800 patients have gone through clinical pathways and 414 patients through clinical procedures. These were direct payments to people who were hospitalized.
As for PCR tests, the NHIF pays an average of 2300-2500 per day. The fund provides money in cases where the Regional Health Inspectorates have decided that tests should be performed. They can be paid in several different ways. The price of one test is BGN 60 for consumables and labor.
Prof. Salchev was adamant that the NHIF pays the medical institutions and laboratories on time and so far there are no complaints in this regard. However, there are still hospitals that have not reached their normal workload due to the coronavirus pandemic. They are paid 85% of the activity they usually perform.
In recent months, the overall decrease in the volume of activity is about 2.6-3% in hospital care. In the outpatient department it is about 4 percent. However, there is a big reduction in dental care – about 30%.
Prof. Salchev assured that the health insurance fund has the resources to meet a possible flu epidemic, as long as hospitals spend wisely.
As for the increase in the prices of all clinical pathways, the NHIF manager confirmed that it will be 10%. According to him, these funds should go to increase staff salaries, but this cannot be a process to be administered by the fund. It all depends on the management of medical institutions.
