CRO GOVERNMENT PROPOSES AMENDMENTS TO LAW ON HEALTH INSURANCE

ZAGREB, Dec 10 (Hina) - The Croatian Government forwarded amendments to the Law on Health Insurance into urgent parliamentary procedure on Thursday, with the aim to improve the health system. According to the Government's motion, the Bureau for Payment Transactions should, at the Croatian Health Insurance Institute's request, coercibly collect the taxpayers' unpaid contributions, by transacting money from a taxpayer's account to the Croatian Health Insurance Institute's account. The Government also proposed a financial fine for not paying the health insurance contribution. If the offence is repeated, the Government suggested the revocation of work permits for one year. Another change has been proposed, under which the Health Insurance Institute would receive funds for the health insurance of persons older than 65 and unemployed persons directly from the state budget. Currently, these funds are earmarked from county budgets. Health Minister Zeljko Reiner said those funds ranged between 20 percent and 88 percent of county budgets, which most counties could not pay. A report on the situation in health care will be discussed in Sabor next week, Reiner concluded. (hina) it jn/ha