The government is planning to keep the National Health Insurance (NHI) premium rate at 5.17 percent next year, as a reserve fund could be set aside to sustain the NHI system for about one month.
The conclusion was reached in a meeting of the National Health Insurance Committee on Wednesday, which also discussed the scope of medical benefits that would be covered next year.
“Before setting the health insurance premium rate, the committee will first calculate the revenue based on the expenditure and consider a potential increase in the budget for the National Health Insurance system in the next few years. Then we will consider whether the revenue will be sufficient to set aside a reserve fund that can sustain the National Health Insurance system for at least one month,” National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) Director-General Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) told reporters on the sidelines of an event on health education.
Photo: CNA
“The committee estimated that if the health insurance expenditure increases to 4 percent next year, a reserve fund can be set aside to pay healthcare expenses for another 1.01 months. This means that the premium rate should remain at 5.17 percent,” Shih said.
The committee said that its recommendations would be sent to the Executive Yuan for approval.
The committee would begin negotiating next year’s budget for the NHI system in September and deliberating the premium rate in November, given that the Cabinet approved its recommendations, it said.
The NHIA would also review a list of over-the-counter drugs paid by the NHI system to address a drug shortage and reduce waste, Shih said.
Drugs prescribed to children and for public health purposes would be given priority considerations when the NHIA reviews the list, Shih added.
NHIA Deputy Director-General Tsai Shu-ling (蔡淑鈴) said that the NHI system pays about NT$2 billion (US$65.13 million) for over-the-counter drugs per year.
“We are expected to address the issue faster, even though the types of over-the-counter drugs paid by the NHI system have been reduced from more than 1,300 to 800,” she said.
The NHIA aims to control the insurance payment for over-the-counter drugs, Tsai said.
Aside from conducting a comprehensive review of clinical drugs, the NHIA would consult the Food and Drug Administration to ascertain the types of drugs that require prescriptions and detailed instructions, and determine whether they should be categorized as prescription or nonprescription drugs, the agency said.
The NHIA would also propose amendments to drug regulations to ensure that certain over-the-counter drugs could be covered, she said.
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