Coordination in payment, funding preparation and treatment medicine

As the situation of the acute respiratory infections caused by a new strain of Corona virus (COVID-19) is becoming complicated globally, on January 28, the Prime Minister issued the Directive No. 05/CT-TTg on prevention of this disease. On January 31, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declares a global medical emergency.

In order to take the initiative and join hands in preventing and fighting against the epidemic, from January 31, 2020, Vietnam Social Security has issued Official Letter No. 280/BHXH-CSYT sending to the social insurance agencies of provinces and central cities; The social insurance bodies of the Ministry of National Defense and the People's Police on coordinating payment of treatment costs with Corona virus infection suspected cases.

In particular, Vietnam Social Security directs the provincial social insurance to actively coordinate with the Department of Health and medical examination and treatment facilities in the area to create the most favorable conditions for the patients with health insurance cards to receive timely medical examination or be transitted if they are one of the suspected cases. At the same time, direct the social insurance agencies of provinces to immediately implement the advance of funding for medical facilities in the first quarter of 2020, which has been fully granted by Vietnam Social Security, especially the social insurance agencies of provinces where a patient is found suspected or infected with COVID-19 virus.

Deputy General Director of Vietnam Social Security Pham Luong Son discussed the implementation of the nationwide electronic health declaration

Giving directions at the Government Standing Committee on COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control on March 13, 2020, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc made an agreement with the Steering Committee on the treatment costs for COVID-19 patients. Accordingly, Vietnamese participants in health insurance will be covered by the Health Insurance Fund, and people not participating in health insurance will be covered by the state budget.

Deputy General Director of Vietnam Social Security Pham Luong Son said that Vietnam Social Security has directed the social insurance agencies of provinces and cities together with medical facilities to prepare a sufficient amount of medicines related to medical examination and treatment under health insurance and the patients’ needs in taking medicines. Especially for the quarantined patients in need of medical care, whether under concentrated or self quarantine, in addition to the COVID-19 special treatment costs, the remaining costs of health insurance card holders will also be covered.

Most recently, the Vietnam Social Security has also issued a directive document to the social insurance agencies of provinces and cities to come to terms with the health sector on issues in the regulation, which is about the necessity to supplement the specific funding for the prevention process. If localities find the funding necessary, early opinions shall be sent to the Vietnam Social Security agency for synthesizing and reporting to the Management Board of Vietnam Social Security, then taking the initiative in the funding of 2020 to prevent the epidemic.

Within the sector, Vietnam Social Security issued a number of official dispatches (No. 320/BHXH-VP dated February 6, 2020; No. 820/BHXH-VP dated March 13, 2020, etc.) raising the awareness of officials and public employees to strictly comply with the measures to prevent and control the COVID-19 epidemic under the guidance of the Ministry of Health; doing disinfectant sprays and total sanitation in all working places; equip hand-washing water in offices; request all officials and employees to wear masks during working and meeting hours; cut down on the number of meetings and conferences, etc., joining hands with the community to limit the spread of disease and prevent the epidemic.

Strengthening support for individuals and units participating in social insurance and health insurance

With the database management of over 85 million health insurance participants and over 15 million social insurance participants, in the past time, Vietnam Social Security has implemented various solutions to assist the participants.

Realizing that the implementation of the national electronic health declaration creates a positive impact on the epidemic prevention, Vietnam Social Security has proactively developed programs and proposed options and measures for the database interconnection and sharing between Vietnam Social Security and the Ministry of Health so that the people's health declaration work takes place with convenience, accuracy and effectiveness.

Currently, Vietnam Social Security has activated a messaging service to notify the social insurance and health insurance codes to the participants for online medical declaration; At the same time, there is also guidance for people to look up the code in other ways. With the social insurance and health insurance codes provided when making online medical declarations, people will help the health sector and authorities to get more information on the process of medical examination and treatment under health insurance stored on the Health Insurance Assessment Information System of Vietnam Social Security. Thereby, the authorities will be acknowledged of the underlying diseases of the declarers. In case they are suffering from the acute respiratory infection caused by a new strain of Corona virus (COVID-19), they shall get timely treatment, limiting deaths.

Regarding the employees, employers are seriously affected by the COVID-19 epidemic situation when production has stagnated and income has declined, Vietnam Social Security has made suggestions and solutions to give timely assistance.

Specifically, on March 12, 2020, Vietnam Social Security issued Official Letter No. 793/BHXH-BT and sent to the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs to request comments on the drafted document guiding the suspension of payment of social insurance for COVID-19 epidemic affected cases. In response to the official letter of Vietnam Social Security, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs made an agreement to: guide enterprises facing difficulties due to the COVID-19 epidemic - if eligible, payment of Pension and survivorship fund shall be suspended (maximum up to 12 months or until the Prime Minister announces the end of the epidemic).

In compliance with this provision, the General Director of Vietnam Social Security requests the social insurance agencies of provinces and cities to coordinate with the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and the Department of Finance to report to the Chairman of the People's Committee of the provinces and cities to direct the review, guidance and propaganda to agencies, units, organizations, enterprises in the industries and fields of production and business activities, or the areas affected by the COVID-19 epidemic accounting for 50% or more of the total number of the participants in social insurance that must temporarily leave their jobs, to file a dossier as a basis for suspending social insurance contributions to the pension and survivorship fund. At the same time, immediately receive and resolve the application in which the interest is not calculated in accordance with the regulations. During the suspension, there shall be no implementation of specialized inspection in payment or planned examination for law compliance on payment of social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance applied to enterprises affected by the COVID-19 epidemic if there are no signs of infringement, etc.

In addition, the Vietnam Social Security also sends a dispatch to the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Health regarding the settlement of the social insurance regimes (sickness regimes) for employees forced to apply medical isolation for COVID-19 prevention. With this proposal, Vietnam Social Security wishes to help the participants have more income to cover their lives’ expenses, overcome difficulties, rest assured to be in quarantine and be provided with proper treatment, contributing to preventing the epidemic.

In terms of the localities, currently, the social insurance of provinces and cities have also been actively involved in the prevention and control work of COVID-19; promoting transactions via electronic forms and the post system to minimize contact and spread of the epidemic.

For the collection of voluntary social insurance, in the context that centralized conferences cannot be held, the provincial social insurance agencies and the agent system shall all organize small group communication at potential households, small businesses in neighborhoods or markets with preventive measures such as wearing masks, using disinfectant water during propagation, etc. In parallel, the provincial social insurance agencies shall continue to well implement the settlement of regimes and policies for the employees if new problems arise, especially unemployed cases due to the epidemic, cases where employees have to quit their jobs for quarantine or to take medical examination and treatment with health insurance, etc.

According to the National Steering Committee's review on the prevention of the acute respiratory infections caused by a new strain of Corona virus (COVID-19), over the past time, the prevention and control activities of all levels, sectors, localities, including the social insurance system at all levels, have been implemented actively and effectively. Notwithstanding, the disease situation is remaining complicated with countless difficulties and challenges ahead. Therefore, Vietnam Social Security determines that in the coming time, the directions from the Government and the Prime Minister shall be well implemented, both fighting against the epidemic and ensuring the performance of professional tasks of the Industry; at the same time, support to resolve difficulties, create favorable conditions, assist individuals and organizations to participate in social insurance and health insurance./.