The Social and Economic Council adopted this advisory report on 18 April 2008. The Council argues in favour of significantly improving the Exceptional Medical Expenses Act (AWBZ) in the next four years. This will be necessary in order to improve the quality of care, ensure that costs are manageable, and guarantee its financial basis. Claims filed under the AWBZ must be clearly delineated. Essentially, the focus should be on the client and not on the care provider. A “core AWBZ” should remain for persons who are disabled at a young age and for comparable groups.

The advisory report sets an agenda for amending the AWBZ in the short and medium term. The agenda essentially covers all the various elements or parts of the AWBZ and also involves its relationship to adjoining policy domains, for example the Healthcare Insurance Act [Zorgverzekeringswet] and the Social Support Act [Wet maatschappelijke ondersteuning].