People who are not covered by health insurance will pay higher medical expenses.
(Baonghean.vn) - People without health insurance will pay 30-50% more for medical examination and treatment than those with health insurance cards - This was the main point raised at a meeting to hear and give opinions on the draft regulations on the price of medical examination and treatment services not covered by the Health Insurance Fund in state-owned medical facilities.
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| Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) surgery using vapor ablation and bipolar electrocautery via endoscopy at Nghe An Endocrinology Hospital. Photo: Thanh Son. |
Comrade Le Minh Thong, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, chaired the meeting. Representatives from the Provincial Propaganda Department also attended the meeting.The Provincial People's Council's Culture and Social Affairs Committee, the Provincial People's Committee Office, the Department of Finance, the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, and the Provincial Social Insurance Agency. |
At the meeting, the leaders of the Department of Health presented a draft proposal on regulating the prices of medical examination and treatment services not covered by the Health Insurance Fund in state-owned medical facilities in Nghe An province. Accordingly:
Prior to March 1, 2016, public medical facilities in the province applied the same service fees for medical examinations and treatments for patients with and without health insurance cards, as stipulated in Decision No. 125/2014 of the Provincial People's Committee.
From March 1st, 2016, public healthcare facilities will implement two different pricing levels: For those with health insurance cards, the rates will follow Circular No. 37/2015 of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance, which stipulates a unified national pricing system. For those without health insurance cards, the rates will continue to be applied according to Decision No. 125 of the Provincial People's Committee.
The problem is that the prices for medical examination and treatment services stipulated in Circular No. 37 are higher than those in Decision No. 125. This means that the Health Insurance Fund and those with health insurance cards have to pay 30-50% more for services than those without cards. And those without health insurance cards still haven't paid the correct and full amount they need to – the components that make up the price.
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| Leaders of the Nghe An Department of Health present the draft proposal for adjustment. Photo: Thanh Son. |
The new pricing structure is based on Government and ministerial decrees and circulars. The proposal suggests raising the price of medical examination and treatment services not covered by the Health Insurance Fund in state-owned medical facilities to the maximum level stipulated in 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 they currently do.
At the meeting, representatives from various departments and agencies contributed many opinions to the proposal. Accordingly, all opinions agreed on the necessity of increasing the price of medical examination and treatment services for those not covered by health insurance because: This adjustment helps medical facilities have more funds to invest in improving quality. For the people, this adjustment ensures fairness between the two groups and encourages participation in health insurance...
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| Comrade Le Minh Thong concludes the meeting. Photo: Thanh Son |
Concluding the meeting, Comrade Le Minh Thong requested the Department of Health to finalize the documents for submission to the upcoming Provincial People's Committee meeting and the Provincial People's Council meeting, based on feedback from various sectors. Particular attention should be paid to explaining the reasons and inconsistencies of Decision 125 in the current context. An assessment of how the adjustments will impact the people is also necessary. It is crucial to clearly state that the 16.77% of Nghe An's population who have not yet participated in health insurance are small traders and individual business owners with relatively high incomes and living standards.
Comrade Le Minh Thong noted: Circular No. 37/2015 of the Joint Ministry of Health - Ministry of Finance outlines a price increase roadmap for each year. At this time, the prices of medical examination and treatment services are not yet fully calculated but are being gradually adjusted to reflect this. The Department of Health needs to study the proposal for a price increase so that it also follows the roadmap outlined in Circular 37.
Thanh Son
