ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses several cost containment measures in the long-term care insurance compulsory exceptional medical expenses scheme, including nursing home care reforms, substituting in-patient with out-patient care, subsidies for innovation of care, and cash entitlements. Cost containment measures in regular health care services include budgets for hospitals, delisting of services, changing payment methods, price controls for pharmaceuticals, controlling capital investments, and substituting in-patient with out-patient care. Health care in the Netherlands is largely provided by self-employed professionals and private organizations, guided by government policies and self regulatory guidelines. The health insurance system in the Netherlands consists of both compulsory and voluntary insurance. The Dutch health insurance system has undergone rapid transformation, with traditional relationships giving way to a more market-oriented health care system. Governments may consider a wide range of cost containment measures in health care, including global budgets for all or parts of health care expenditure; budgets for institutions or funding agencies; price controls; and changes in payment methods.
