Funding for Emergency Rooms to Depend on Ambulance Patient Numbers: NFZ Changes Lump-Sum Calculation Rules

Poland's National Health Fund (NFZ) is set to implement new regulations for calculating payments to hospital emergency departments (SOR) and admission rooms. The revised rules aim to link funding more directly to patient outcomes, specifically focusing on the efficiency of emergency services.

Under the new system, the financial allocation will be determined by the proportion of patients transported by ambulance who are subsequently admitted to the hospital. This change modifies the calculation of the unit settlement price and the so-called "access indicator" for admission rooms. The NFZ intends to move away from provincial registers of the State Medical Emergency Service, opting instead for its own list of hospital units to ensure uniformity in calculations across NFZ divisions.

The NFZ argues that the existing register lacks complete data for calculating the access indicator. The updated methodology is designed to standardize these calculations across various NFZ departments. While the NFZ stated that the changes were discussed during consultations from May 27 to June 10, 2026, only three entities responded, with two submitting no comments. The comments received were deemed irrelevant to the proposed changes.

Importantly, the NFZ clarified that these changes do not alter the procedures for admitting patients to hospitals. The primary goal is to streamline the financial settlement process with healthcare providers. The directive will take effect 30 days after its signing, but the key provisions concerning financial calculations will apply to services rendered starting January 1, 2027.

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W trakcie konsultacji trwających od 27 maja do 10 czerwca 2026 r. do projektu zarządzenia odniosły się łącznie trzy uprawnione podmioty i organizacje, z czego dwa nie wniosły uwag. Uwagi, które wpłynęły, dotyczyły zapisów niestanowiących przedmiotu procedowanych zmian, zatem zostały uznane za niezasadne.