Finland's Central Finland welfare region is rolling out a new fee for patients who receive medical care via telephone. The charge for a doctor's appointment conducted over the phone, which directly replaces a physical clinic visit, has been set at 71.30 euros. The fee represents the maximum amount a welfare district can charge a patient for such a service under current Finnish client fee legislation.
The decision to implement the charge was made by the region's board last year. The rollout is happening gradually as new appointments are scheduled. Patients will receive clear notification about the fee's applicability within their appointment confirmation letter or text message. This move formalizes a charge for a service that became more common during the COVID-19 pandemic but was often provided without a specific fee attached.
How The New Charge Works
The key detail is that not all phone calls with a doctor will incur this cost. The 71.30 euro fee applies specifically to what the welfare region calls a 'care phone call' that replaces a doctor's physical appointment. Routine follow-up calls, advice calls, or calls that do not substitute for a scheduled in-person consultation are not subject to this charge. The region clarified this distinction in its official bulletin, aiming to prevent confusion.
When a patient schedules a specialist healthcare appointment and is offered a phone consultation as an alternative to coming into the hospital or clinic, the notification will state if that call is classified as a fee-replacing service. This gives patients the information upfront to understand the potential cost implication of accepting a remote consultation.
Counting Toward the Annual Cap
An important aspect of Finnish healthcare law is the annual out-of-pocket maximum for patient fees. This new phone consultation charge will contribute toward a patient's yearly client fee cap, which is currently 815 euros. Once a patient's combined fees for municipal health services reach this limit within a calendar year, they receive services free of charge for the remainder of that year.
This integration into the existing cap system means the phone fee is not an additional unbounded cost but part of the structured co-payment framework that governs Finnish public healthcare. The system is designed to protect patients from catastrophic health expenses while ensuring some level of financial participation.
The Context of Welfare Region Reforms
This policy emerges as Finland's relatively new welfare regions, known as 'hyvinvointialueet', continue to define their service models and financial practices. These regions, established in the 2023 social and healthcare reform, took over responsibility for organizing public healthcare and social services from individual municipalities. Each of the 21 welfare regions now has significant autonomy in how they operate within national legislation.
The Central Finland region's decision to implement this maximum fee highlights the financial pressures these new entities face. They are tasked with providing comprehensive care within budgets, leading to examinations of all potential revenue streams permitted under the Client Fees Act. Other welfare regions are closely monitoring the implementation and public reception of such charges.
Patient Notification and Transparency
The rollout method, tied to new appointment scheduling, is a phased approach intended to ensure clear communication. By including the information directly in the booking confirmation, the region aims for transparency before the service is rendered. This avoids unexpected bills arriving after a phone consultation has taken place and allows patients to inquire about the classification of the call beforehand if they have concerns.
The practice raises questions about how consistently the 'appointment-replacing' criterion will be applied across different medical specialties and individual doctor-patient interactions. Clear guidelines for medical staff on when to assign this fee code will be critical for fair and uniform application.
Looking at the Broader EU Picture
Finland is not alone in grappling with how to fund and structure digital and remote care. Across the European Union, member states are experimenting with reimbursement models for telemedicine as it becomes a permanent fixture of healthcare delivery. The Finnish model of integrating it into a capped co-payment system, rather than having it be a fully separate billed item, represents one approach to normalization.
The charge also intersects with broader EU goals of digital transformation in healthcare. Policymakers must balance encouraging the efficiency and accessibility of remote care with ensuring it remains affordable and does not create a two-tiered system where digital options carry new financial barriers.
For now, residents of Central Finland will encounter this new line item when booking certain specialist appointments. The region's experience will provide valuable data for other Finnish welfare districts and for national policymakers evaluating the long-term funding structure of a healthcare system that increasingly operates both physically and virtually. The success of the policy may hinge on patient understanding and the perceived value of a 71-euro phone call compared to the time and cost saved by avoiding travel to a clinic.