site.btaParliament Votes to Include Health Care Professionals in National Framework Agreement Negotiations

Parliament on Friday voted conclusively amendments, requiring the Bulgarian Medical Association (BMA) to invite representatives of the Bulgarian Association of Healthcare Professionals to participate in the negotiation process for the National Framework Agreement (NFA) when the negotiations concern activities performed by these professionals. The proposal was submitted by the Council of Ministers.

The amendment to the Health Insurance Act was supported by 152 MPs - 61 from GERB-UDF, one from Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB), 31 from Vazrazhdane, 22 from MRF-New Beginning, 15 from BSP-United Left, 16 from There Is Such a People, three from Alliance for Rights and Freedoms, and three independent MPs. One MP from MRF-New Beginning voted against. 17 MPs from CC-DB and seven from MECh abstained.

The adopted amendments fulfill a requirement under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and establish a legal framework ensuring that the opinions of healthcare professionals are taken into consideration during the negotiation process of the national framework agreements.

Margarita Mahaeva from Vazrazhdane proposed that the Bulgarian Union of Physician Assistants and Feldshers also be included in the amendment, but the plenary rejected the proposal.

Kostadin Angelov from GERB-UDF said that before such an amendment can be made, changes to the Medical Establishments Act are necessary, as under the current law, physician assistants do not have the right to perform medical activities within healthcare facilities. Angelov stated that he has undertaken a commitment to ensure such a legal provision is granted to physician assistants in the future.

The National Framework Agreement is signed for a period of two years. The document specifies the prices and volumes agreed upon between the Bulgarian Medical Association and the National Health Insurance Fund, which determine how physicians operate in both outpatient and hospital care. Dentists also sign framework agreements with the NHIF, while pharmacists negotiate with the NHIF the procedures and conditions under which pharmacies operate and are reimbursed for their activities.

Negotiations for a new agreement are currently ongoing.