NFZ Ends Degressive Rates for Key Oncological Exams

The National Health Fund has eliminated degressive payment rates for four common diagnostic exams, ensuring full reimbursement for oncological patients in active treatment and follow-up care, effective retroactively from April 1, 2026.

Full Reimbursement for Cancer Screenings

The National Health Fund (NFZ) has updated its financing rules for outpatient specialist diagnostic services. A new decree from the NFZ president ensures that selected diagnostic procedures for cancer patients will be fully reimbursed, removing the previous degressive mechanism where facilities received only 50 or 60 percent of the value for services exceeding contractual limits.

This change applies to patients treated under the DiLO card system as well as those who have completed primary therapy but remain under constant oncological follow-up. The regulations were formally published on June 25, with retroactive application to services provided since April 1, 2026.

Eliminating Financial Barriers to Diagnosis

Medical facilities have long argued that reduced funding for services performed beyond set limits discouraged them from increasing diagnostic capacity. By moving to full funding, the government aims to remove a significant financial hurdle that previously caused delays for patients requiring regular post-treatment monitoring.

The Ministry of Health based this decision on an analysis of imaging exam availability and wait times. The policy change specifically targets four of the most common diagnostic and monitoring procedures used in oncology, ensuring that the continuity of care is not hindered by funding caps after a patient’s DiLO card has been closed.

Clarifying the New Administrative Procedures

Patients do not need to take any action, file applications, or obtain special approvals to benefit from these changes. The update solely alters the settlement mechanism between the NFZ and medical providers. Patients will continue to receive their required diagnostic tests based on a referral and the treatment plan established by their physician.

While the decree does not automatically guarantee shorter waiting times for MRI or CT scans, it addresses the financial bottleneck that prevented clinics from expanding access. Success remains dependent on the local availability of specialists and the operational efficiency of individual medical facilities.