Assessment of the impacts of the freedom of choice pilot
In the freedom of choice pilot study, Kela’s reimbursements for private medical care are allocated to private primary healthcare services provided to persons aged 65 or over. The aim of the pilot study is to improve the availability of services, offer customers more freedom of choice and reduce the workload in the public healthcare sector. In this project, we use a multi-method approach to assess how the pilot met its objectives.
The project consists of four sub-studies: 1) a descriptive analysis and causal impact assessment based on register data, in which changes in the use of primary public and private healthcare services as well as differences e.g. between population and disease groups are examined; 2) a customer path analysis, in which sequence analysis and clustering are used to identify different patient groups and customer paths and to estimate costs; 3) a survey to examine experiences of the availability and quality of services, the clarity of the reimbursement model and the smoothness of the service paths and flow of information between sectors; and 4) interviews to assess the functionality, incentives and impacts of the reimbursement model on private service providers and the service system as a whole.
The study provides information on the impacts of the most significant pilot study in the history of Kela reimbursements. The results will be used in the development of the service system, especially in the development of the family doctor system and the Kela reimbursement models.
Researchers
- Riina Hiltunen, Leading Reseracher
- Hennamari Mikkola
- Heini Kari
- Timo Hujanen
- Hanna Koskinen
- Jenni Blomgren
- Heta Moustgaard
- Tero Kujanpää
- Lauri Mäkinen
Project Implementation Period
15.10.2025–31.12.2028
Partner
Project coordination: Riina Hiltunen, Kela ja Timo Sinervo, THL.
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