NHF will pay dentists for overcharges. "These are not easy talks."

The National Health Fund will begin settling payments for overdrafts in December, such declarations were received by the president of the Regional Medical Council in Szczecin, Michal Bulsa.

- After many tough talks with the National Health Fund, we managed to convince the National Health Fund to pay a portion of the overdraft for 2024. If we are talking about an amount of up to 5 thousand zlotys, it will be all settled in full, and if the amount is higher we are talking about a 30% adjustment. It's not an ideal situation, it's not what we expected, but it's certainly a step towards dialogue with the National Health Fund and a better situation than just a few weeks ago, when we were offered a round zero," admits Michal Bulsa, president of the Regional Medical Council in Szczecin.

It is estimated that almost every office in Szczecin cooperating with the National Health Service may have excess capacity. Doctors admit that they would have to drastically cut back on accepting patients if they only treated within limits. The Dental Committee of the District Medical Council admits that the problem with regulating overcontracting did not begin until 2024.

- We are fed up with crediting the National Health Fund and treating patients at our own expense. The current system is driving dentists to ruin," said dentists from Szczecin.

Are doctors reassured about health care funding in 2025?

- It is difficult to talk about peace of mind when one hears that many hospitals IN POLAND are in an increasingly deteriorating financial situation, and the payment of fees for overcharges in many facilities is simply not taking place or is being made with a long delay. In recent weeks we have witnessed months of political discussion about whether health premiums should be reduced or not. The last thing doctors want is tons of antagonism with entrepreneurs, but we must emphasize that the changes now proposed, while they are a nod to entrepreneurs are not a nod to patients. We have reason to be concerned, because the Minister of Finance still has not answered whether the possible shrinkage of revenues to the NFZ will be 100 percent reimbursed from government funds," says Michal Bulsa, president of the Regional Medical Council in Szczecin.

President Bulsa adds that Szczecin's medical and dental community is open to discussions regarding funding for services. However, we recognize that the situation that occurred in 2024 cannot be repeated.

- Without a guarantee of good pricing of services and without a guarantee of reimbursement for necessary overages, there is a serious risk that dental practices will not sign contracts with the National Health Fund. What then? White spots without access to dentists on the map of Poland, huge queues to doctors and the collapse of all dental prophylaxis. The Health Ministry must be aware of this," adds chairman Michal Bulsa.

The Regional Medical Council in Szczecin and the Dental Committee of the Regional Medical Council in Szczecin have sent a letter to Prime Minister Donald Tusk on the issue. It has been forwarded to the NFZ.