Draft bill by the Minister of Health – explanations from Iceland Health

The aim of the bill is to set a clearer framework for contracting and payments outside contracts, without reducing rights or going against existing contracts. The bill sharpens the obligation of the Health Insurance Agency to base decision-making on evidence-based treatment and professional economic assessment.

It is important to emphasize that the current bill does not involve overturning the current arrangement or the state going back on its words.

The provisions in question have been shaped taking into account the Health Insurance Agency's experience of contracts with different service providers. They aim to increase transparency in all of the Health Insurance Agency's contracting and are in line with the recommendations from the National Audit Office's administrative audit.

One provision of the bill, on the submission of annual accounts and other financial information, was specifically discussed in negotiations with specialist doctors. This was a compromise, but the bill provides for increased authority for the agency in line with the criticism of the National Audit Office.

A provision on the maximum validity period of a tariff is already in the law, but until now the term "temporary" has been used, which is unfortunate. The draft in question proposes that the maximum validity period be 12 months, but as the Minister has pointed out, Iceland Health believes that it may be examined whether it is possible to extend the maximum validity period to some extent from what is currently proposed.

Iceland Health emphasizes continued dialogue and cooperation with all parties with the aim of ensuring a robust and transparent healthcare service for all citizens.

Link here: Consultation Portal | Case: S-187/2025