According to the report from the Department of Health Insurance Implementation, in the draft proposal for amending and supplementing some articles of the Law on Health Insurance, the Ministry of Health presented three main policy groups, including: Sustainable expansion of beneficiaries and benefits of health insurance participants; improving the effectiveness of managing and operating health insurance, the responsibility of healthcare service providers and social security agencies; and ensuring the uniformity, consistency, accuracy, and feasibility of the regulations in the legal document.

The first policy regarding the sustainable expansion of beneficiaries and benefits of health insurance participants includes four specific contents: sustainable expansion of beneficiaries of health insurance; creating favorable conditions for people to participate in health insurance; expanding the scope of health insurance benefits; and expanding direct payment methods.

The second policy regarding the improvement of the effectiveness of managing and operating health insurance, the responsibility of healthcare service providers and social security agencies is reflected in some of the following regulations: clarifying the authority and responsibility for resolving health insurance disputes; improving the effectiveness of health insurance inspection and payment control; and demonstrating the state's protective policy for the health insurance fund.

Overview of the meeting

The third policy regarding ensuring the uniformity, consistency, accuracy, and feasibility of the regulations in the legal document also introduces some new points. Specifically, it defines the concept of health insurance for households according to the Law on Residence; the health insurance procedures are amended to comply with the regulations on electronic identification and authentication; the functions of the social security agency are supplemented in the proposal to participate in policy-making; and the government is assigned to regulate the details of health insurance contracts.

The amendment and supplementation of the Law on Health Insurance need to ensure the improvement of management efficiency, and effective implementation of the health insurance policy. It is necessary to clearly define the roles and positions of each entity and agency participating in policy implementation. Therefore, the amended the Law on Health Insurance needs to be built and argued based on evidence and practical experience in implementing policies in reality, and be able to anticipate situations that may arise in new situations.

Illustrative image (internet)

Participating in providing feedback, the business units of the VSS also pointed out the issues that need to be clarified in the draft amended Law, such as: unifying the regulations on health insurance participants; evaluating the impact on the health insurance fund, and the implementation of the health insurance policy when expanding the beneficiaries; monitoring regulations, financial mechanisms that ensure effective management of the health insurance fund, and are suitable for practical conditions.

General Director Nguyen The Manh emphasized that to ensure the feasibility of the draft amended Health Insurance Law when implementing it, as well as to ensure consistency and uniformity with related legal policies, and to address the shortcomings and limitations in the draft, it is important to balance the health insurance fund and the rights of health insurance participants and healthcare facilities.

Manh suggested that the Department of Health Insurance Implementation continue to coordinate with the units of the VSS to study and provide feedback on the draft amended Law on Health Insurance, in which the Ministry of Health should evaluate the policy's impacts thoroughly and actively gather opinions from experts, researchers, and impacted individuals to ensure the feasibility of the law when implementing it. "The recommendations must be based on reality, predict the impacts of policies, and aim to ensure the highest benefits for the people," Manh emphasized.