Accordingly, on April 23, 2021, the Prime Minister sent the Telegram No. 541/CD-TTg on strengthening the implementation of the COVID-19 epidemic prevention, and the VSS sent it to the provincial social insurance agencies for execution.

In order to drastically, synchronously and effectively implement the proposed epidemic prevention measures, especially to comply with the 5K requirement of the Ministry of Health as not to allow the epidemic spread in the community, the VSS requires the social insurance agencies of provinces to coordinate and come to an agreement with the health care facilities under health insurance to strictly implement the Official Document No. 97/CD-BYT dated January 29, 2021 of the Ministry of Health and the guidance by the VSS in Official Dispatch No. 310/BHXH/CSYT dated February 4th, 2021 and Official Letter No. 346/BHXH-CSYT dated February 8, 2021.

At the same time, to note a number of contents such as to organize the prescription and dispensing of outpatient medications for chronic diseases with longer time for all subjects (up to 3 months). To conduct SARS-CovV-2 tests for patients according to the instructions in Official Letter No. 5268/BYT-KCB dated October 1, 2020 of the Ministry of Health for early detection and thorough isolation prevention. To guide referrals and make re-examination appointments suitable to the local epidemic situation, ensuring convenience for insured patients and safety in the epidemic prevention and control.

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VSS also requested the units to comply with the above guidance and promptly report to the VSS about difficulties and problems needed to be resolved.

Previously, Official Letter No. 310/BHXH/CSYT dated February 4, 2021 of the VSS asked the social insurance agencies of provinces and cities to study and coordinate with medical care facilities under health insurance for implementation; At the same time, to implement payment of the medical examination and treatment costs covered by health insurance under the guidance of the Ministry of Health, both ensuring the medical care for people and drastically carrying out measures to prevent COVID-19 infection in the medical care facilities under health insurance.

Along with that, Official Letter No. 346/BHXH-CSYT dated February 8, 2021 also instructed the social insurance agencies of provinces and cities to pay for COVID-19 tests under the health insurance regime. Accordingly, for the cost of testing COVID-19, the provincial social insurance agencies shall pay according to the instructions of the VSS in Official Dispatch No. 2731/BHXH-CSYT dated August 27, 2020. In case a patient is on inpatient treatment at the emergency department, emergency resuscitation, intensive care and other inpatient departments of a medical facility and assigned to undergo the COVID-19 test as instructed in Clause 5 in the Telegram No. 97/CD-BYT, the provincial social insurance agency shall organize the payment according to the instructions in Clause 2 of Official Dispatch No. 2731/BHXH-CSYT.