Dutch Health Minister Urged to Cut Patient Mental Health Care Fee

A recent report by the Dutch mental health services authority found that 17 percent of patients have stopped psychiatric treatment since €200 fees were introduced in January 2012. These fees, specific to mental health care, are added to the €220 deductible that every Dutch citizen pays before health insurance begins to cover care. Following the report, health minister Edith Schippers was urged to reduce the fee, but she has declined, saying this would require cuts in other sectors of the health care budget. The mental health services authority is now preparing to take Schippers to court to have the fee dropped.

Sources: 
http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2012/02/health_minister_warns_of_more.php  
http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2012/03/mental_health_authority_prepar.php