On the afternoon of October 31st, at the National Assembly building, continuing the program of the 8th Session, under the chairmanship of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, the National Assembly held a plenary discussion on the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Health Insurance Law.
Participating in the discussion, National Assembly Deputy Mai Van Hai, Provincial Party Committee member and Deputy Head of the Thanh Hoa Provincial National Assembly Delegation, basically agreed with the Government's submission and the Social Affairs Committee's verification report on the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Health Insurance Law.
Commenting on Article 12: Subjects participating in health insurance, Representative Mai Van Hai stated that the draft Law has added quite a few subjects participating in health insurance from different groups, which is very necessary to move towards achieving the goal of universal health insurance coverage.
However, regarding the group whose health insurance premiums are paid by the state budget for dependents of personnel in the armed forces as stipulated in points a and b of clause 3, it is necessary to specify which individuals are eligible. It should be specifically defined as the biological parents of the spouse; biological children, adopted children, and legally recognized guardians. For the group whose health insurance premiums are subsidized by the state budget, it is suggested that there should be a more preferential policy for students; households engaged in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and salt production with average living standards; and households belonging to ethnic minorities, so that all these groups can participate in health insurance. These are groups that still face many difficulties.
In addition, it is suggested that consideration be given to adding the heads of mass organizations at the village, hamlet, and sub-district levels to the list of those whose health insurance premiums are paid by the state budget. This is a sentiment and aspiration expressed by many voters during each voter consultation session.
Regarding Article 26: Registration and initial health insurance examination and treatment, Representative Mai Van Hai generally agreed with the amendments and additions to the draft law on initial registration for medical examination and treatment, for both basic and basic levels of medical examination and treatment. However, the addition of regulations for initial registration for medical examination and treatment at specialized medical facilities needs careful consideration and a specific impact assessment.
Because, in reality, specialized medical facilities mostly treat critically ill and life-threatening patients, hospitals are often overloaded, putting immense pressure on medical staff; the infrastructure does not yet meet the requirements. If regulations require them to also perform primary healthcare services for the public under the health insurance scheme, it will further burden specialized medical facilities, a task that can be perfectly well performed at the primary and basic levels.
Representative Mai Van Hai suggested that instead of requiring initial medical examination and treatment at the specialized level, only initial registration for health insurance at the basic level of medical examination and treatment would be appropriate. At the specialized level, initial medical examination and treatment should only be considered for certain priority groups, including officials and those directly working in specialized medical facilities.
Article 27: Transferring patients between health insurance-covered medical facilities. Clause 3 stipulates that a health insurance cardholder who seeks medical treatment at a facility other than their initial registered health insurance facility, during inpatient treatment, may be allowed to do so if a different illness is discovered outside the scope of expertise of the medical facility or if their condition deteriorates beyond the facility's capabilities.
Representative Mai Van Hai suggested further consideration of allowing patients with health insurance to self-isolate for medical examinations and treatment, meaning they would not need to be referred to other facilities. This is a wish of many voters. However, according to the representative, careful consideration is needed to facilitate patients while also ensuring strict control and convenience for the management and treatment of medical facilities.
Because, not allowing patients to self-transfer to other facilities leads to several drawbacks, such as: creating impatience and insecurity about treatment at primary and basic healthcare facilities, leading many patients to transfer to higher-level facilities for treatment, causing overload at higher-level facilities, especially specialized ones, and significantly affecting the quality of care at specialized healthcare facilities; moreover, patients with health insurance cards may not all know how to get to the correct appropriate healthcare facility. Therefore, it is suggested that the referral procedure should still be in place, but it must be made as convenient and quick as possible for patients when they need to be transferred.
Article 31, regarding payment for medical examination and treatment under health insurance, stipulates in Clause 4 the payment of costs for medicines and medical equipment transferred between health insurance medical facilities. This provision aims to facilitate patients in cases where the treatment facility lacks the necessary medications. However, this needs further consideration and more specific regulations to ensure the smooth transfer and payment of medicines and medical equipment, and to provide timely treatment for patients. Delays in the transfer of medicines and medical equipment to patients will cause difficulties for them.
To facilitate treatment for patients, delegate Mai Van Hai suggested considering additional regulations to allow patients to pay for medications and medical equipment purchased outside the market based on a doctor's prescription, provided they are on the list of medications and medical equipment eligible for reimbursement under the health insurance fund. This would make it more convenient for patients to receive treatment.
Quoc Huong
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/dbqh-mai-van-hai-doan-dbqh-tinh-thanh-hoa-can-nhac-quy-dinh-dang-ky-va-kham-benh-chua-benh-bhyt-ban-dau-o-cap-chuyen-sau-229151.htm
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