Study 2023-53 (HSR) Evaluation of the pilot project to implement the New Deal model.

Ongoing study - In the context of an ageing population, the demand for care is becoming greater and more complex. GPs are feeling overburdened and/or are no longer accepting new patients, leaving patients without a GP in some places. The fee-for-service system is ill-suited to pay for work other than patient contacts and does not allow GP practices to diversify. The new generation of GPs also want a better work-life balance.

With this in mind, RIZIV/INAMI has drawn up a new model for the organisation and funding of general practice, known as the New Deal, which general practices will be able to join voluntarily. This new model will coexist with the current system.

One of the aims of this new system is to achieve greater delegation of tasks within practices, which should have a number of positive impacts, such as:
- an improvement in the quality of care by broadening the range of services on offer, particularly in terms of prevention and proactive, ongoing care;
- a reduction in the number of annual consultations between GPs and chronically stable patients;
- an increase in access to GPs for new patients;
- an increase in the satisfaction of professionals working in the GP practice.

In 2024, the new model will be launched as a pilot project. Recruitment of volunteer GP practices to test it began in January 2024. Several waves are planned for volunteer practices to start using the New Deal model (1 April, 1 July, 1 October).

The KCE has been asked to coordinate the evaluation of this pilot project. The first results of the evaluation should be available after 3 years of operation.