Rehabilitation services for children with developmental disabilities and co-payment

The National Health Insurance Law enacted in 1995 provided basic health insurance for all residents in Israel, but in 1998 the Law of Allocations made the insured pay for medications and therapy. We have looked at the influence of co-payment on compliance with therapy appointments at a child development center in Israel. Among the Jewish population, a significant difference in the rate of non-compliance was found, while among the Bedouins, the increase in the rate of non-compliance was more moderate. Copayment led to a 16% increase in the risk for non-compliance with therapy appointments. A 37% increase in risk for non-compliance with therapy appointments was found for Bedouins, in comparison with the rate of non-compliance with therapy among Jews and we must therefore conclude that the legislation had a negative impact on the use of rehabilitation services.