People who do not participate in health insurance will pay higher medical examination and treatment costs.

(Baonghean.vn) - People who do not participate in health insurance will pay 30-50% higher medical examination and treatment costs than people with health insurance cards - That is the main content raised in the meeting to listen to and give opinions on the draft regulation on the price of medical examination and treatment services not covered by the Health Insurance Fund in state medical examination and treatment facilities.

Surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia by vaporization and endoscopic bipolar cautery at Nghe An Endocrinology Hospital. Photo: Thanh Son

At the meeting, the leaders of the Department of Health presented a draft proposal on regulating the price of medical examination and treatment services not covered by the Health Insurance Fund in state-owned medical examination and treatment facilities in Nghe An province. Accordingly:

Before March 1, 2016, public medical examination and treatment facilities in the province will apply the same price for medical examination and treatment services for patients with and without health insurance cards as prescribed in Decision No. 125/2014 of the Provincial People's Committee.

From March 1, 2016, public medical facilities will apply two different price levels: For people with health insurance cards, it will follow Circular No. 37/2015 of the Ministry of Health - Ministry of Finance, which is uniform nationwide. For people without health insurance cards, it will still follow Decision No. 125 of the Provincial People's Committee.

The problem is that the prices of medical examination and treatment services stipulated in Circular No. 37 are higher than Decision No. 125. This means that the Health Insurance Fund and cardholders must pay 30-50% more for services than those without a card. And those without a health insurance card have not yet paid the correct and full amount of money that needs to be paid - the price components.

Leaders of Nghe An Department of Health presented the draft adjustment proposal. Photo: Thanh Son

The construction of new prices is based on the Decrees and Circulars of the Government and ministries. The proposal: Bring the price of medical examination and treatment services not covered by the Health Insurance Fund in state-owned medical examination and treatment facilities to the maximum level of Circular No. 37. This means that nearly 16.77% of Nghe An's population who do not have health insurance cards will have to pay more than at present.

At the meeting, representatives of departments and branches gave many comments on the proposal. Accordingly, all opinions agreed with the need to increase the price of medical examination and treatment services for groups of subjects who have not participated in health insurance because: This adjustment helps medical examination and treatment facilities have more funds to invest in improving quality. For the people, this adjustment ensures fairness between the two groups of subjects, encourages participation in health insurance...

Comrade Le Minh Thong concluded at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Son

Concluding the meeting, comrade Le Minh Thong requested the Department of Health to complete the documents to be submitted to the upcoming Provincial People's Committee meeting and Provincial People's Council meeting on the basis of receiving opinions from the sectors. In particular, special attention should be paid to explaining the reasons and unreasonableness of Decision 125 at the present time. Assess how the adjustment will affect the people? It is necessary to clearly state that the group of 16.77% of Nghe An's population who have not participated in health insurance are small traders and individual businesses with good income and living standards.

Comrade Le Minh Thong noted: Circular No. 37/2015 of the Ministry of Health - Ministry of Finance has a roadmap for price increases each year. At this time, the price of medical examination and treatment services has not been calculated correctly and fully but is being calculated step by step. The Department of Health needs to study so that the price increase proposal also has a corresponding roadmap like Circular 37./.

Thanh Son