Draft regulations seen by RTL confirm that hospital doctors will continue to be allowed to charge a supplement of 66% on standard fees when patients request a private room during their hospital stay.
These new regulations, which are due to come into force in October, are set to replace the current agreements that tie doctors and dentists to the National Health Fund (CNS). The Association of Luxembourg Doctors and Dentists (AMMD) terminated its existing convention last year, linking its signature on a new deal to a series of demands. However, mediation efforts between the CNS and AMMD broke down at the beginning of this month.
The regulations also incorporate the so-called personal convenience (convenance personelles, or CP) codes, which are particularly significant for dentists. These codes enable practitioners to bill for services not reimbursed by the CNS. In addition, provisions have been included to maintain the Immediate Direct Payment (PID) system. This system ensures that patients no longer have to pay in advance the portion of medical fees covered by the CNS.
The fact that the first-class supplement is set to be retained will be well received by hospital doctors, who would otherwise have faced the prospect of lower fees. Whether this supplement could continue had been a matter of debate in recent months, as it has not been provided for in law for several years. The regulations must still be reviewed and approved by the Council of State before they can take effect.
