Higher medical examination and treatment service price for uninsured participants

According to Circular No.02/2017/TT-BYT dated 15^th March 2017 by Ministry of Health, the maximum price range for three groups of medical examination and treatment services (1. Medical examination and treatment fees; 2. Cost per hospital bed-day; 3. Cost for technical services and laboratory tests based on the classification of hospitals) for uninsured patients will increase from June 2017. Of these medical service groups, the price range for medical examination and cost per hospital bed-day are expected to increase from 2 to 4 times. In particular, the medical examination fee is going to increase 4 times in the regional general clinics and commune health stations, and 2 times in level I- and level II- hospitals. This is a huge increase for inpatient and long-term treatment patients. However the biggest financial impact on uninsured patients would be the increase in price of technical services and laboratory tests by hospital classification regardless of outpatient or inpatient, under long-term or short-term treatment.

Circular 02/2017/TT-BYT comes into force from 01/6/2017.

0.5% reduction in the contribution rate to labor accident and occupation disease insurance fund

Pursuant to the Decree No.44/2017/NĐ-CP, from  June 01, 2017, the compulsory social insurance contribution to labor accidents and occupation diseases is to reduce from 1% of employees’ salary fund to 0.5%. Thus, the employers shall contribute monthly to the labor accidents and occupation diseases fund with the rate as follows:

- 0.5% of the salary fund for the employees on which the social insurance premiums are based, except for domestic caretakers.

- 0.5% of the base salary for employees as non-commissioned officers, people's army soldiers; non-commission officers, public security force soldiers with definite service terms; student officers of the military, public security and secret service task forces entitled to living expenses.

Promulgating the list, rate and conditions for reimbursement for health insurance medical supplies

Circular 04/2017/TT-BYT promulgated the list, rate and conditions for reimbursement for health insurance medical supplies. Accordingly, the total reimbursement for health insurance medical supplies for each technical services shall not exceed 45 times of monthly base salary. The reimbursement is calculated based on the health insurance group of participants, the duration of participation and the total amount of co-payment expenses for the financial year up to the time of using technical services.

The health insurance fund shall not reimburse for the following cases: Medical supplies that have already been paid by the state budget or other financial sources; Medical supplies used in technical services not yet approved by the authorities nor  within the scope of benefits.

Circular 04/2017/TT-BYT enters into force on 1 June 2017.

International Cooperation Department