Four new Flash Reports prepared by the European Social Policy Network (ESPN) are now available and provide information on recent policy developments in Latvia, Liechtenstein and Norway.

• After the unsuccessful attempts of previous governments to reform the healthcare funding mechanism, the Latvian Government decided last spring to increase the state social insurance compulsory contribution rate by 1% as of 2018. The increased rate is expected to improve healthcare funding and access to healthcare services. The Parliament approved these changes in July 2017, together with the tax reform package.
• Every resident of Liechtenstein must take out basic health insurance with an officially recognised insurance company. The Liechtenstein government has submitted a proposal to the parliament to amend the current healthcare act (Gesetz über die Krankenversicherung). The proposal aims to increase government influence on the tariffs to be applied by physicians who have a contract with the compulsory health insurance and on the engagement of these contractual physicians. In this way, the government seeks to create more transparency in billing, keep the steadily increasing healthcare costs under control and enhance basic medical care provision.
• In Liechtenstein, all professional childcare facilities are operated privately.  However, the Childcare Contribution Regulation, which is based on the Children and Young Persons Act (Kinder- und Jugendgesetz) and governs public subsidies to professional childcare facilities, is silent about the subsidy process and eligible institutions. Members of the Liechtenstein parliament have therefore demanded changes in the law to guarantee equal treatment for all forms of external childcare.
• The attendance allowance (pleiepenger), one of the key benefits in Norway providing public support to families with care obligations, was amended in May 2017 and the new rules have been in force from 1 October. The allowance is now available to more parents, but the rights of families with the heaviest care obligations have been reduced. Due to several protests against the new rules, a new amendment is already underway in Parliament.