An NHIF contract for a dental practice: requirements and changes

The healthcare facility contracts for specified activities

A dental practice needs the required registration for its activities and addresses, qualified dentists and equipment. An individual dentist's professional registration does not replace the facility's registration or its contract for a particular package.

Article 13 of the 2026–2028 dental National Framework Contract (NRD) includes individual and group primary or specialist dental practices, dental centres and medical-dental centres. The Medical Establishments Act governs the practice's legal form; the NRD does not replace the process for establishing or changing a facility.

Apply to the regional health-insurance fund (RZOK) for the registered activity address. General conditions under Article 16 and specific conditions under Articles 72–76 must hold throughout the contract. This guide was checked on 19 October 2026 against the contract of 16 September 2026 and its published annexes.

Check the requirements for your proposed package

All activities need the relevant registration, professional conditions and equipment under Annex 4. Bulgarian Dental Union membership, practice rights and qualifications must reflect the actual team.

A primary-care contract does not automatically authorise reporting specialist procedures. General-anaesthetic care requires the facility's organisation and standard compliance, not simply a particular specialist. Coverage concerns the specified patients and conditions, not any elective sedation.

For mobile facilities, Article 77 includes an approved settlement and at least three months of continuous work there. Portable equipment or willingness to make home visits is insufficient.

Documents for the application

Use the current forms on the NRD page. Article 79 covers applicant and facility identification, all activity addresses, the Annex 4 activity declaration, current Dental Union membership and professional codes, professional-rights declarations, qualifications and relevant specialties or radiography credentials. It also covers work in facilities in another RZOK area, BULSTAT registration for the applicable practices established by individuals, and mobile-facility schedules and routes.

Existing providers follow Article 80. Some documents are required only when changed or can be replaced by a no-change declaration; specified documents and declarations must still be resubmitted. Unchanged circumstances do not mean nothing needs filing. Check the whole Article 80 list for your case.

Article 81 bars additional contracting documents beyond Articles 79 and 80. For a request to complete a file, clarify the requirement and deadline. Keep the filing reference and a copy of the submission.

Under Article 83, contracts, addenda and related documents can be electronic, signed with a qualified electronic signature and sent through the Secure Electronic Delivery System. Ordinary email is not equivalent.

Application deadlines and contract start dates differ

The contract was published in State Gazette No. 88 on 25 September 2026. Section 2 gives publication as the general commencement date, with different starting dates for prices and reported time in specialist packages. Article 18 provides 30 days from NRD commencement for applications and documents. Confirm the final filing date and arrangements with RZOK. For an incomplete file, RZOK gives written notice within seven days of identifying the omission and sets up to 14 days to correct it. Eligible contracts are concluded within the period set by that article.

Outside the usual deadlines, Article 19 allows contracting where assessed needs and a shortage under the National Health Map are established. Registering a new practice does not guarantee a contract at any time. Ask RZOK to confirm the applicable route in writing.

Section 3 separately governs the start date. An existing provider signing in time for the same type of care may have a contract effective from NRD commencement. A new type of package or a provider not previously working with NHIF starts from signature. Publication of forms, filing and commencement must not be confused.

Employees, an independent practice and several addresses

Article 15 permits appropriately educated and qualified staff. The NRD does not regulate employment relationships. NHIF's owner-and-employees clarification links contract performance to the operating facility and timely reporting; it does not waive staffing, registration or actual-care requirements.

Employment does not itself prevent an application through a separately registered practice of your own. NHIF explains that the NRD does not require termination of employment solely for that application. Check employment obligations, facility registration and NHIF eligibility separately.

Under Article 78, there is one contract per provider, per RZOK, for each contractual subject, with delivery possible at several addresses. This is not a general rule on how many companies a dentist may own.

Article 89 limits reported time per dentist to a monthly daily average of six hours for primary care and eight for paediatric or surgical care, calculated on a five-day week. The calculation includes contracts as provider and employee. Several practices do not each create a separate full time allowance.

Notify changes under the appropriate rule

Changes to circumstances under Articles 72–76, 78 and 79 require notification to RZOK and a copy of the relevant document within seven days. These concern activity conditions, addresses and contracting documents; do not wait for the next reporting period.

Temporary absence and substitution under Article 90 require notification within five working days from the start of substitution. The substitute must have the required qualification and record their own identity as prescribed.

Adding a new package differs from notifying an address or staffing change. Article 20 restricts expansion of the contract's subject, with an exception for established need. Confirm the basis and contractual arrangement before offering the new package as NHIF care.

A new NRD does not erase a termination sanction

Article 21 permits a new contract after 12 months from a contract-termination sanction taking effect. The relevant date is when the sanction becomes effective, not merely the inspection or order date.

Article 70(2) also addresses an earlier-NRD sanction becoming effective during the new NRD: the current contract is terminated. Signing anew does not remove that consequence. A particular dispute requires examination of the act, scope, dates and any appeal; an answer given to another provider cannot resolve it.

Use the NHIF procedure and tariff reference for codes, rates and reporting. For your contract, send RZOK the facility, package and change details and request a written reply.