News item | 30-01-2025 | 16:01
In order to prevent the abuse of money that is intended for healthcare, Minister Fleur Agema of VWS has sent a bill to the Lower House. The Healthcare and Youth Assistance Providers (WIBZ) Integer Operations Act requires providers to have fair business operations where social interests such as quality, accessibility and affordability are paramount.
Minister Fleur Agema: “It is a shame that there are people who abuse money intended for care, and patients are the victims. These graaiers deliberately damage the broad trust in the care and youth assistance sector. Although most providers do their work with good intentions, there are also providers who abuse common money to benefit from it financially. I want to tackle these abuses, tricks at (financial) business and the ridiculously high profit benefits, so that it stops excessive self -enrichment. ”
External supervision, enforcement and extra refusal and withdrawal grounds for permit
To stop abuse of money, supervision by the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) is improved. The bill ensures that the NZa can supervise the business operations of healthcare organizations. For example, they can investigate signals further by, for example, requesting financial documents, and imposing sanctions if necessary. The requirements and possibilities for supervision and enforcement will also apply to youth aid providers. The NZa will also supervise large transactions in healthcare, whereby there may be a conflict of interest. Think of an IT contract with a family member or sale of a building to a spouse. The NZa can check whether a market price is paid.
With extra refusal and withdrawal grounds on the permit, non-integer drivers are better banned from the care. For example, a permit can be refused or withdrawn if there is no good care or if people pose a serious risk for the good governance of the care provider. For example, it may include drivers who were previously involved in criminal activities, or a director who lets the care provider go bankrupt when one or more supervisors start an investigation into the care provider.
Standards for profit benefits
The prohibition on profit benefit in healthcare is maintained and is tightened. At the law level, new conditions for profit benefits by care and youth aid providers will be able to pay out a profit. These conditions will also apply to so -called subcontractors if they want to pay out a profit. If it has been established that providers do not provide good quality of care or violate rules for declarations, it is forbidden to pay out profit. In addition, a provider may not get money from an organization if finances are not in order.
No irresponsible risks
In addition, the Healthcare Providers Act does not oblige irresponsible risks for loans or investments. This prevents investors, such as private equity parties, to be able to get too much money from the care or youth assistance companies.
See also: Bill for the Integer Operations for Healthcare and Youth Assistance Providers