Vietnam Social Security guides payment of COVID-19 testing costs for people with health insurance cards

According to Official Dispatch No. 4051/BYT-KHTC, the Ministry of Health requested the Vietnam Social Security to direct the Social Security of provinces and cities to temporarily pay for COVID-19 testing costs for people with health insurance cards in the following cases: Patients who must implement medical isolation measures, forced medical isolation, people infected with COVID-19 who are being examined and treated at medical facilities; Cases where medical facilities are assigned to perform testing according to the Ministry of Health's instructions on diagnosis and treatment of acute respiratory infections caused by nCoV.

Official dispatch No. 4051/BYT-KHTC also clearly states the applicable price levels stipulated in the Appendix issued with Circular No. 13/2019/TT-BYT dated July 5, 2019 of the Ministry of Health amending and supplementing a number of Articles of Circular No. 39/2018/TT-BYT dated November 30, 2018 of the Ministry of Health regulating the unification of health insurance service prices among hospitals of the same rank nationwide and providing guidance on the application of prices and payment of health insurance costs in some cases.

Nghe An CDC takes samples for Covid-19 testing. Photo courtesy of Thanh Cuong

Specifically, service number 1735: Real-time PCR testing for bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites is 734,000 VND/test sample for cases of testing using the Real-time PCR method. Service number 1736: Rapid test for bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites is 238,000 VND/test sample for cases of performing rapid testing.

Based on the request of the Ministry of Health, in Official Dispatch No. 2418/BHXH-CSYT, Vietnam Social Security requests that provincial Social Security agencies coordinate with local health insurance facilities to promptly assess and pay for COVID-19 testing costs for people with health insurance cards according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health in Official Dispatch No. 4051/BYT-KHTC.

At the same time, the provincial Social Insurance agencies are requested to continue to implement the contents guided in Official Dispatch No. 2146/BYT-BH dated April 17, 2020 and Official Dispatch No. 2276/BYT-BH dated April 24, 2020 of the Ministry of Health on payment of health insurance medical examination and treatment costs related to the COVID-19 epidemic. During the implementation process, if there are any difficulties or problems, the provincial Social Insurance agencies shall promptly report to the Vietnam Social Insurance for guidance and resolution.

Nghe An CDC takes samples for Covid-19 testing. Photo courtesy of Thanh Cuong

While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop complicatedly, Vietnam Social Security is determined to enhance the spirit and political tasks of the Industry, ensure close coordination with Ministries, Committees and branches, promptly issue instructions with specific solutions, closely follow the implementation of health insurance policies in localities to better ensure the rights of health insurance participants; join hands with all levels and branches to carry out the work of preventing and fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in the most effective way.

New: Instructions for paying for Covid-19 testing costs for people with health insurance cards

Pay for Covid-19 testing costs for people with health insurance cards in cases where patients must undergo medical isolation measures, forced medical isolation, or people infected with Covid-19 are being examined and treated at medical facilities.