Reversing the balance of care from inpatient to outpatient services has been on the healthcare policy agenda for many years. One incentive to increase the volume of services provided by family physicians has been to modify the capitation-to-FFS split, which in 2023 was reduced from 50%:50% to 35%:65%.
The Law no. 163/2025 that modifies the Law 95/2006 on healthcare reform states a further increase of the FFS payment share, to a 25%:75% ratio in 2026 and to 20%:80% in 2027. Other measures aimed at a higher volume of primary healthcare services provided by the family physicians stated by Law no. 163/2025 refer to facilitating the opening of additional general care/family physician practices, especially in areas with a low number of inhabitants. This is expected to also reduce the number of localities without primary care services and the number of people without primary healthcare access, subsequently reducing the burden on hospitals and the unmet needs of the population.