Speaking at the meeting, Deputy General Director Nguyen Duc Hoa stated that the amended and supplemented Health Insurance Law was passed by the National Assembly with an exceptionally high level of consensus. The law aligns with the directives of the Party, the State, and the National Assembly, featuring practical, concise, and comprehensible provisions with strong feasibility. This clearly defines the responsibilities and authority of organizations, and individuals to enhance the efficiency of health insurance policy implementation. The amendments address institutional bottlenecks and ensure consistency with other laws during the implementation process. Procedures are simplified to provide maximum convenience for individuals using health insurance for medical examinations and treatments. Additionally, Government and relevant ministries are assigned to regulate specific issues within their jurisdiction, ensuring flexibility and timely revisions when necessary, while minimizing overlaps with provisions in other laws.

Deputy General Director of Vietnam Social Security Nguyen Đuc Hoa holds an online meeting on November 28 with provincial, municipal, and district-level social security offices nationwide to discuss the implementation of the amended and supplemented Health Insurance Law

"As the agency directly responsible for implementing health insurance policies, engaging with the public, and understanding situations, Vietnam Social Security has been actively involved in the process of amending the Law on Health Insurance. The industry has proactively identified challenges and obstacles while researching and proposing numerous solutions to revise, supplement, and improve health insurance policies and laws. The recommendations and proposals from Vietnam Social Security have been incorporated into the draft law. The ultimate goal is to ensure that the legitimate rights and interests of participants and beneficiaries are enhanced, meeting the growing healthcare needs of the population more effectively” shared Deputy General Director Nguyen Duc Hoa.

The amended and supplemented Law on Health Insurance includes many notable new points that bring benefits and convenience to health insurance participants. Specifically, the Law has completely revised Article 12 regarding subjects, contribution methods, and contribution levels, aligning with the amended Law on Social Insurance recently passed by the National Assembly in June 2024. Several new groups of participants have been added, and the level of support has been increased.

Regarding the expansion of benefits under the Law, the scope of health insurance coverage to include remote medical consultations and treatments, support for telemedicine, family medicine, and home healthcare, in alignment with the 2023 Law on Medical Examination and Treatment and the digital transformation trend in the healthcare industry.

A key highlight of the amended Law on Health Insurance is the "eliminating administrative boundaries" in medical treatment. The Law aligns with the Law on Medical examination and treatment by classifying medical expertise into three levels: specialized, basic, and initial care. Under this regulation, the transfer of healthcare facilities is no longer dependent on administrative levels (such as commune, district, province, or central government, as before); this aims to create maximum convenience for patients and reduce administrative procedures when transferring between healthcare facilities.

The criteria of primary medical care registration are clearly defined. Specifically, individuals who register for primary medical care at a higher-level facility will be allowed to receive care at lower-level facilities. Notably, health insurance participants are entitled to 100% coverage when receiving treatment at basic or specialized healthcare facilities in cases of confirmed diagnosis and treatment of certain rare diseases, serious illnesses, diseases requiring surgery treatment, or the use of advanced techniques, as regulated by the Minister of Health. Thus, for certain cases involving rare or serious illnesses, surgeries, or advanced medical techniques, patients no longer need to transfer between levels according to regulations and shall still receive 100% of the benefits. The Law also addresses the issue of shortages in medicines and medical supplies, ensuring patients' rights when purchasing medicines outside the healthcare system.

Implementing the amended and supplemented Health Insurance Law recently passed by the National Assembly: Vietnam Social Security is ready with the necessary resources to ensure timely benefits for participants. (Illustrative image)

In addition, the Law also outlines the Ministry of Health's responsibility for regularly reviewing and updating treatment protocols to ensure convenience in medical care and health insurance premiums payment; regulations on evaluating the appropriateness of providing health insurance medical services; provisions on the application of information technology, digital transformation, and data sharing in the health insurance industry; the integration and use of clinical test results among healthcare facilities in line with professional requirements; and solutions to enhance health insurance medical care capacity for grassroots healthcare; supplementing regulations on the issuance of electronic health insurance cards

 “These are major reforms that greatly facilitate healthcare services for the public under the health insurance medical care. Vietnam Social Security will work closely and harmoniously with the Ministry of Health to implement comprehensively as well as conducting widespread communication to ensure that the public understands,” said Deputy General Director Nguyen Duc Hoa.

To ensure the timely and effective implementation of the amended and supplemented Health Insurance Law, Deputy General Director Nguyen Duc Hoa directed the Department of Health Insurance Implementation, the Center for Medical Review and tertiary care payments to proactively work closely with relevant ministries and agencies involved in drafting the Decree and Circulars for implementation. At the same time, preparations should be made for communication, training, and guidance for local social insurance agencies. Provincial and municipal social security offices are encouraged to proactively develop plans and strategies to implement the Law from the first days of its enforcement, ensuring timely benefits for health insurance participants.

"Vietnam Social Security has fully prepared and is ready with the necessary resources; working closely with the Ministry of Health to ensure the timely and effective implementation of the Law, helping people access health insurance medical care more conveniently with improving quality," shared Deputy General Director Nguyen Duc Hoa./.