V-notice: Now the controversial freedom of choice law in Stockholm is being scrapped
The red-green government in the city of Stockholm has tasked the elderly administration with investigating how the Freedom of Choice Act (LOV) can be abolished in home care.
Quick Look
- The red-green government in Stockholm plans to abolish the Freedom of Choice Act (LOV) in home care.
- Senior citizen councilor Robert Mjörnberg (V) states that the goal is to regain control of the business and fulfill an election promise.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
LOV was introduced in 2009 and allows private providers to compete with municipal activities in health and social care.
In Stockholm, more than half of the providers of nursing homes and home care are private providers.
Now the red-green government in the city of Stockholm wants to abolish the Freedom of Choice Act (LOV) in home care in Stockholm.
- We give a task to the elderly administration. We must take back control over the home care, says senior citizen councilor Robert Mjörnberg (V).
LOV was introduced in 2009. It allows regions and municipalities to let private contractors compete with their own operations, as long as the requirements for the operations are met.
Then it will instead be up to the care recipient himself to choose which actor he wants to use.
The red-green majority gives the administrations the task of investigating how LOV can be scrapped within home care. It will be presented in connection with the budget presentation on Wednesday.
- The question is not whether we should abolish LOV, but how, says Robert Mjörnberg (V).
Before the election, the Left Party's party leader Nooshi Dadgostar and Alexandra Mattsson, group leader in the city of Stockholm, wrote in a debate article that at least half of the home care in Stockholm should be run under municipal auspices after the election.
In the past, Södertälje and Gothenburg, among others, have announced that LOV will be abolished.
- It is a big change in care for the elderly. We are very happy to be able to fulfill our election promise to the voters of the Left Party. And that we may cooperate with S and MP on this. We all see the importance of having care for the elderly that is more stable and that focuses on the needs of the elderly, says Councilor for the Elderly Robert Mjörnberg (V).
A large part of the home service is currently carried out by private actors.
He does not want to say when the abolition will take place, because he does not want to preempt the investigation. Critics and opponents of the abolition believe that both freedom of choice and diversity in home care are affected by the abolition of LOV, but Robert Mjörnberg does not agree.
- Freedom of choice will remain in the city of Stockholm and it will be better. We want a home service where even idea-driven and other non-profit actors can work, says Robert Mjörnberg.
The city of Stockholm's budget will be presented on Wednesday.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Investigation into the abolition of LOV will be presented at the budget presentation on Wednesday.
Very likely · Within days
Open Questions
- When will the abolition take place?
- What will the future home care model look like?
