Do not cancel health insurance payments for ordered and borrowed machines

According to the Ministry of Health, in the recent period, the demand for equipment of medical facilities, especially medical examination and treatment facilities is very large while investment from the state budget, loans ODA, aid capital, non-business development development funds of the units… are limited and do not meet practical needs.

To meet the needs of the people, medical examination and treatment facilities have implemented many solutions to obtain equipment, including the form of the winning unit of materials and chemicals to order or lend the machine.

In order to ensure the payment of health insurance for this form and at the same time in accordance with the provisions of the law on management and use of public property, the Ministry of Health has sent an official dispatch dated April 12, 2018 to the Vietnam Social Insurance. Nam about the payment of medical examination and treatment expenses covered by health insurance on borrowed and ordered machines.

Following that, on October 2, the Ministry of Health and Social Insurance of Vietnam agreed on the payment in Notice No. 1039/TB-BYT-BHXH.

In which, it is clearly stated that they agree to continue to pay the costs of medical examination and treatment covered by health insurance for technical services performed using machines that are lent or ordered by the winning unit for materials and chemicals according to the contractor selection results according to the contract. provisions of the Law on Bidding and signed contracts.

After the contract expires, if it continues to perform, it must comply with the provisions of Decree No. 151/2017/ND-CP dated December 26, 2017 of the Government detailing a number of articles of the Law on management and use. use public property. Medical examination and treatment facilities must comply with professional procedures in appointing the use of services.

The Ministry of Health has issued Official Letter 6807/BYT-BH dated November 9, 2018 sending a copy of the Notice No. 1039/TB-BYT-BHXHVN mentioned above to the units and localities and so far there has been no document to annul. Notice No. 1039/TB-BYT-BHXHVN.

Thus, the payment of health insurance for the ordering and borrowing machines is currently being carried out according to the instructions in Official Dispatch 6807/BYT-BH dated November 9, 2018 of the Ministry of Health and is not related to the abolition of public health insurance. Document No. 2009/BYT-KHTC.

The Ministry of Health will work with Vietnam Social Security to agree on specific guidelines for implementation units. In case of exceeding their competence, the two parties will report to the Government for consideration and settlement according to regulations.

Previously, on May 9, the Ministry of Health sent an official dispatch to the Vietnam Social Security on the annulment of Official Letter No. 2009/BYT-KH-TC dated April 12, 2018 of the Ministry of Health on the payment of medical bills. technical services using borrowed machines, machines ordered by the winning units for materials and chemicals.

This dispatch immediately caused a stir in public opinion, the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City even sent an urgent document to the Ministry of Health and Social Insurance of Vietnam to report difficulties and problems when implementing related official documents. to the payment of technical and testing costs for patients.

The People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and hospitals said that if they stop paying for health insurance with the cost of technical services on borrowed machines, machines located at medical facilities (according to the Ministry of Health’s document) will affect people’s health, quality of treatment and universal health insurance.

Ngoc Trang