New Rules from August 1 – What the Health Ministry Reform Entails

Israel's Ministry of Health is expanding the children's healthcare reform from August 1, 2026, aimed at reducing inequality in access to medical services. The focus is on public health funds, which have already hired over 166 child development specialists. The new compensation rules for therapy apply to all new patients nationwide, except for remote areas where the transition is postponed until January 1, 2027.

Israel's Ministry of Health continues its large-scale reform of the healthcare system for children with developmental disorders. From August 1, 2026, the second phase comes into effect, expanding the geographic scope of changes in the compensation system for therapy. The reform relies on public health funds and certified centers to ensure equal access to services regardless of income or place of residence. The first phase began in February 2026: during this time, the funds hired over 166 specialized professionals, fully meeting the recruitment targets by March. The exception is the Southern District, where additional mechanisms are being sought to increase service volumes. The new compensation rules apply to children under six years old without an autism diagnosis and not classified as somatic patients. For remote areas – the Arava, Golan Heights, Jordan Valley, Negev, and Dead Sea region – the transition to the new rules is postponed until January 1, 2027, due to the need to prepare infrastructure and address staff shortages. The Ministry of Health promises to maintain strict oversight of the reform's implementation.