Background
.In the orthopedic footwear industry, healthcare providers have long faced non-cost-covering rates set by health insurers. This put pressure on the financial sustainability of many providers and threatened the accessibility of essential foot care for patients nationwide.
More than 18 healthcare providers in the industry joined forces. Representatives from over 50% of the national market share worked together to force a rate increase and better conditions. Dirkzwager assisted the healthcare providers in this case, finally securing cost-covering rates for the sector.
"After consultations with CZ and VGZ about paying realistic rates were deadlocked, we engaged Dirkzwager, and successfully. This resulted in cost-covering rates for us, but also for other companies within our industry."
Settlement with VGZ: mandatory 20% rate increase by 2025
The summary proceedings against health insurer VGZ have resulted in a settlement in which a rate increase of more than 20% has been agreed upon. This increase, effective January 1, 2025, means that healthcare providers in the orthopedic shoe technology industry will finally receive a real rate for their services. In addition, some onerous conditions have been removed from VGZ's policy, lowering the administrative burden for healthcare providers.
Ruling against CZ: mandatory rate increase of 16% in 2024 and 20% by 2025
.Last Wednesday, the Zeeland-West Brabant District Court ruled in favor of healthcare providers in summary proceedings against CZ. The ruling obliges CZ to increase rates by 16% this year and as much as 20% in 2025. This ruling marks an important step towards fair and cost-covering rates throughout the sector.
Breakthrough for future-proof care
The Dirkzwager team, consisting of Koen Mous, Stefan Donkelaar, Rosanne Kuiper and Mathijs Jonkers, assisted the healthcare providers in this fight for fair rates. Their efforts and legal expertise contributed to a substantial financial improvement for the healthcare providers involved and a significant step towards future-proof healthcare rates.
This breakthrough not only has direct financial benefits for the orthopedic shoe technology industry, but also sets an important precedent for other healthcare providers in the Netherlands. It shows that health insurers can be held accountable for fair and cost-covering rates.
