WRITTEN ENTRY REGARDING FREE USER CHOICE

In connection with the proposal to repeal the legal rule on the approval model for free user choice, etc., Løvemammaene has submitted a written submission to the Health and Care Committee at the Storting. The purpose of the section, which was added to the law in September 2021, was to make it easier for the municipality to introduce free user choice. There are several challenges with the section in practice, including that the municipalities do not have the opportunity to set a ceiling on the number of suppliers (e.g. when using BPA). The model could also have a negative impact on children and families' ability to receive stable and predictable services. You can read our input below.

Consultation input applicable to Prop. 63 L (2021-2022): Amendments to the Health and Care Services Act etc. (repeal of legal rule on approval model for free user choice, etc.)

The lion mothers have chosen to give input to the following chapters in the proposal:

Chapter 2 – Repeal of the statutory rule on approval model for free user choice.

The ministry proposes to repeal Section 3-11 of the Health and Care Services Act on the approval model for free user choice. The lion mothers share the ministry's concern, which forms the basis for proposals to repeal the current section of the law. The Lion Mothers support the Ministry's proposal to repeal section 3-11 of the Health and Care Services Act. The Løvemammaene are concerned that the municipalities must ensure good services, and at the same time be given the necessary leeway to offer services adapted to the needs of children and families.

Løvemammaene also believes that Section 3-1 of the Health and Care Services Act gives the municipalities the necessary leeway when it comes to organisation, collaboration and the use of private service providers, but believes that good routines and routines must be ensured for tenders and concession rounds, where children and families' needs and professional quality governs both processes and decisions that are made.

We want to highlight the service user-controlled personal assistance (BPA) to show the need for free user choice, while ensuring good tender and licensing processes. The Løvemammaen believe it is important that the number of suppliers be limited in the municipality, among other things to reduce the time spent by supervisors in assessing which BPA supplier suits children and families best. We believe that there must still be a minimum number of suppliers in all municipalities. We believe that a minimum number of BPA suppliers in smaller municipalities should be between 4-8 suppliers, and in larger municipalities the ceiling should be between 8-15 suppliers. Løvemammaene believes that good guidelines and routines must be ensured in each municipality during tender rounds, where, through the use of professional groups, both the basis for competition and quality are ensured both in the process and in the decision. Løvemammaene believes that all municipalities must have an offer to enter into an agreement with BPA suppliers who meet the municipality's requirements, even if they do not "is on the list of BPA suppliers". In this way, you limit the time spent by the supervisor in selecting a supplier, but at the same time ensure free user choice and user participation.

The Løvemammaene believe that the ministry must continue to focus on, and work forward to ensure free user choice, with the result that the needs of individual children and families are taken care of. When it comes to BPA, the service is a good example that is delivered with greater quality through private suppliers, than what the municipality itself is equipped to handle as of today. This is about experience and specialization within the service, which private providers work according to, where they possess great expertise and tools that are better adapted to the needs and premises of the children and families.