Table 1 The differences between competitive bidding and service vouchers as procurement mechanisms
Process | Competitive bidding | Service voucher |
|---|---|---|
Price | Defined by firms in their tenders | Regulated by Kela |
Minimum quality and other criteria | Controlled by Kela | Controlled by Kela |
Excess quality | Scored during the procurement process | Not scored or evaluated during registration |
Contracting | Completed with firms based on quality-price ratio | Completed with all firms fulfilling minimum criteria |
Patient choice | Patients may choose a local provider that has a contract with Kela | Patients may choose a local provider that has a contract with Kela |
Out-of-pocker payments required | No | No |