ANS Respects Consensus on Base Rates, But Still Perceives Tension

Bratislava, 28 November (TASR) - The Slovak Hospitals Association (ANS) acknowledges the decision of the steering committee of the centre for DRG classification system and respects the consensus reached in setting the base rates for hospitals for 2026, ANS told TASR on Friday, adding, however, that the resulting distribution of rates continues to create tension between individual providers. "With regard to district and regional hospitals, we do not consider the compromise to be fair and expect a return to rate convergence in the future. The 23 percent higher base rate for the largest state hospitals compared to the base rate for smaller hospitals does not yet meet this objective," stated ANS. The association emphasises that it will closely monitor the real impact of the new rates on hospital funding and on the availability of health care for patients in the regions. It announced its readiness to constructively negotiate further adjustments to the DRG system so that it is sustainable in the long term and fair to all types of hospitals. However, according to the association, the discussion on the base rates for next year corresponded to the complexity and importance of the issue. The Health Ministry reported on Friday that the steering committee for reimbursement mechanisms and price regulation for institutional health care has approved basic group rates for each group of hospitals for 2026, adding that fair financing of hospitals is being established. According to the ministry, the approved proposal will encourage institutional health-care providers to increase the share of health care financed through payments for services rendered and, conversely, to reduce the share of lump-sum payments in total health-care payments. am