OBJECTIVES:In Hungary two important legislations were introduced regarding the regulation of the number of hospital beds. The first legislation dates back to 1996, while the new act on developing of the Hungarian health care system – came into effect on April 1, 2007 cut the number of hospital beds significantly in Hungary. The aim of our paper is to compare the two acts. METHODS: Data were derived from the nationwide administrative dataset of the National Health Insurance Fund Administration (OEP), the only health care financing agency in Hungary. We analyzed the following criteria: volume and proportion of hospital bed reduction; capacities covered by the legislation; decision making level; final decision; role of transparency. RESULTS: In 1996 the number of hospital beds was cut from 92000 to 81000, by 12 %, in 2007 from 80,000 to 71,000, by 11 %. In 1996 the number of acute and chronic care hospital beds and the out-patient contact hours was covered by the legislation, while in 2007 the out-patient contact hours was not. In 1996 the County Health Councils, while in 2007 the Regional Health Councils was responsible for arranging the capacities. In the lack of consensus, in 1996 the director general of the National Health Insurance Fund Administration, while in 2007 the minister of health made the final decision. In 1996 there was a specific formula for defining the number of hospital beds in the counties, while in 2007 there was not any public information on the allocation. CONCLUSIONS: We can conclude that in Hungary the legislation of 1996 provided a more transparent and more complex approach toward the reduction of hospital beds. In 2007, the lack of transparency and lack of public professional approach made impossible to understand the reform process. METHODS: METHODS: