The 2015 hospital treatment choice reform in Norway: Continuity or change?

- This article follows the format of Health Reform Monitor articles.
- It describes the introduction of the 2015 hospital treatment choice reform in Norway.
- It analyses the key stakeholders' position, the policy process and the reform content.
- The reform differs from previous choice reforms by focusing more on the supply side.
- The main novelty is the inclusion of non-contracted private hospitals patients can choose from.

In several European countries, including Norway, polices to increase patient choice of hospital provider have remained high on the political agenda. The main reason behind the interest in hospital choice reforms in Norway has been the belief that increasing choice can remedy the persistent problem of long waiting times for elective hospital care. Prior to the 2013 General Election, the Conservative Party campaigned in favour of a new choice reform: “the treatment choice reform”. This article describes the background and process leading up to introduction of the reform in the autumn of 2015. It also provides a description of the content and discusses possible implications of the reform for patients, providers and government bodies. In sum, the reform contains elements of both continuity and change. The main novelty of the reform lies in the increased role of private for-profit healthcare providers.