The conference was attended by leaders and officials from relevant subordinate units, representatives from the Ministry of National Defence social security, and the social security of the people's public security forces. Additionally, leaders and relevant officials from provincial and district-level social security offices participated via videoconference.

Deputy Director General Nguyen Duc Hoa chairs the conference

In his opening remarks, Deputy Director General Nguyen Duc Hoa stated that on November 27, 2024, the National Assembly passed Law No. 51/2024/QH15, amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Health Insurance, and that on January 1, 2025, the Government issued Decree No. 02/2025/ND-CP, amending and supplementing several articles of Decree No. 146/2018/ND-CP, which had previously been amended and supplemented by Decree No. 75/2023/ND-CP dated October 19, 2023 of the Government. The Ministry of Health also issued Circular No. 01/2025/TT-BYT, detailing and guiding the implementation of several articles of the Law on Health Insurance No. 51/2024/QH15, which contains many new contents and policies.

"Therefore, today, Vietnam Social Security is organising an online conference to implement Government Decree No. 02/2025/ND-CP dated January 1, 2025, Ministry of Health’s Circular No. 01/2025/TT-BYT dated January 1, 2025, and key tasks for implementing health insurance policies in 2025,” said the VSS Deputy Director General.

“This is an important opportunity for officials and employees working on the implementation of health insurance policies to listen to and discuss the regulations guiding the implementation of the Law on Health Insurance, serving the process of organising the implementation of health insurance policies, ensuring the rights of health insurance participants, and fulfilling the key tasks of the entire sector in 2025," he stated.

 An overview of the conference taking place at VSS’s headquarters in Hanoi

At the conference, leaders from the Department of Health Insurance, the Department of Contribution Collection, Social Insurance Book and Health Insurance Card and the Centre for Medical Claim Review presented reports and insights on the new aspects of health insurance policies according to Decree No. 02/2025/ND-CP and Circular No. 01/2025/TT-BYT. The focus was on new content and policies such as: amendments and supplements to the subjects of participation and health insurance contribution responsibilities to synchronise with the Law on Social Insurance; revisions to regulations on medical examination and treatment according to technical specialisation levels to align with the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment; elimination of referral procedures for certain rare and serious diseases, allowing direct access to basic and specialised levels to reduce procedures and create convenience for health insurance participants; additional responsibilities for the Ministry of Health in regulating the evaluation of the reasonableness of providing medical examination and treatment services; additional responsibilities for the social security offices in checking health insurance-based medical examination and treatment contracts; regulations on the implementation roadmap and benefit rates for outpatient medical examination and treatment at grassroots-level medical facilities; regulations allowing private medical facilities to apply health insurance-based medical examination and treatment service prices of public medical facilities according to the level of technical specialization; regulations on payment of medical examination and treatment service costs at state-owned medical facilities that have had their service lists approved by competent agencies but have not had their prices approved by competent authorities, etc.

On the occasion, the conference participants also discussed and evaluated the inspection, settlement, and payment of medical examination and treatment costs covered by health insurance in 2024 by the provincial social security offices; discussing and exchanging experiences in resolving implementation obstacles; and setting out key directions and tasks for implementing health insurance policies in 2025.

Deputy Director General Nguyen Duc Hoa closes remarks

In his closing remarks, regarding the implementation of health insurance policies in 2025, Deputy Director General Nguyen Duc Hoa urged VSS’s units and social security offices in provinces and cities nationwide continue to focus on the key task of ensuring the rights of health insurance participants when accessing medical care; strictly and correctly implement the provisions of the Law on Health Insurance (Law No. 25/2008/QH12, Law No. 46/2014/QH13, Law No. 51/2024/QH15) and Government Decrees No. 146/2018/ND-CP, No. 75/2023/ND-CP and 02/2024/ND-CP; and relevant Circulars issued by the Ministry of Health; continue to actively participate in the development and improvement of health insurance policies and laws.

He called for innovating and enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of medical claim review, ensuring adherence to the review process, strict control of health insurance-based medical care costs, and resolutely refuse payment for medical expenses that do not comply with regulations; strengthen health insurance cost review, and analyse and forecast the use of the health insurance fund, budget and projected health insurance-based medical care expenditures, and the increase in average costs of medical facilities according to Decree No. 75/2023/ND-CP; strictly implement the decentralisation in signing health insurance-based medical care contracts; regularly organise training and professional development for staff and employees involved in medical claim review to enhance their skills; strengthen inspection of medical facilities with high cost increases, regularly analyse and forecast risks, promptly inspect medical facilities with increased costs, unusual or excessive prescriptions that cause waste, and show signs of abuse and profiteering from the health Insurance Fund.

Directors of provincial social security offices are fully responsible for the results of medical claim review, management and use of budgets, notification of projected expenditures to medical facilities, and settlement of health insurance-based medical expenses in accordance with the law./.