Less counseling for people on the autism spectrum. There is a reaction from the prime minister and the health minister

We wrote about the effects of the order by the National Health Fund president yesterday. Entities running counseling centers for people on the autism spectrum have pointed out that the document's requirement to reserve 25 minutes after each class to fill out documentation means that the availability of counseling is reduced by a third. Another unfavorable provision perceived by the counseling centers is the lack of payment for all participants in group classes. "Payment will only be for one participant in the group, the others will not be paid from the National Health Fund. It should be noted that for some patients, and especially for adolescents and adults, whom we also receive at the Clinic, group classes are one of the best therapies and acquisition of social skills," reported the Association of Parents of Disabled Children Dwarf.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk addressed the issue at a press conference on Wednesday.

- I spoke with Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna. She has asked the National Health Fund to correct this decision immediately, so that in no case do children on the autism spectrum suffer, and so that there is no shortage of funds for therapy, at least at the current level, the prime minister assured.

Children's Ombudsman Monika Horna-Cieślak and Social Deputy Ombudsman for Children Jan Gawronski also called for a meeting with the NFZ president on the issue.

"We express deep concern about the content of the order, which clearly implies a change in the way services available to the community of people on the autism spectrum and their families are billed. The ordinance may directly affect the course of activities in the clinics and may even threaten to interrupt individual therapies," they note in a letter to NFZ President Filip Nowak.