On November 17, 2023, the Ministry of Health issued Circular No. 21/2023/TT-BYT ("Circular 21") stipulating the framework of medical examination and treatment services price in the State's medical examination and treatment establishments and guiding the application of prices and payment of medical examination and treatment costs in some cases and Circular No. 22/2023/TT-BYT ("Circular 22") stipulating uniform prices for medical examination services, medical treatment of health insurance ("health insurance") among hospitals of the same class nationwide and guidance on the application of prices and payment of medical examination and treatment costs in some cases.
Some key contents are updated below:
1. Increase the price of medical examination and treatment services (hereinafter referred to as "ET")
Instead of only stipulating the maximum framework price for ET services in the State's ET establishments as before, Circular 21 has issued a new ET service price bracket, which stipulates both the minimum and maximum levels of these ET services. The ET service price bracket specified in Circular 21 will apply to both services within the scope of payment of the Health Insurance Fund and services not covered by the Health Insurance Fund that are not medical examination and treatment services on request.
Accordingly, Circular 21 has adjusted to increase the maximum price of ET services in ET facilities, including (i) medical examination and health examination services; (ii) bedside day services; (iii) technical services, and testing from about 15% to 18% compared to the old regulations.
Similarly, the price of health insurance services also increased simultaneously compared to the old regulations. Concrete:
- Price of medical examination and consultation services: Increased by about 9%, especially the price of consultation to identify difficult cases (specialists/cases; Only applicable to the case of inviting experts from other units to consult at medical examination and treatment establishments) remains at VND 200,000.
- Bed day service rates: Increase by about 10% to 14%.
- Prices for technical and laboratory services: Most services increase in price by about 1% to 4%, and some services increase in price by up to 10% (such as ultrasound).
In addition, Circular 22 additionally stipulates the price of technical services performed by insensitive anesthesia method excluding the cost of drugs and oxygen used for services. Here, the cost of drugs and oxygen is paid to the social insurance agency and the patient according to the actual use and the results of the unit's procurement auction.
2. Principles for determining specific prices of ET services applied at ET establishments of the State
Basically, the competent authority shall decide that the specific price of ET services for State ET establishments under its management must not exceed the maximum price bracket of ET services in Circular 21.
Particularly for ET establishments under the Ministry of Health and special grade hospitals, Grade I hospitals under ministries and central agencies: Apply the minimum price according to the hospital class specified in Circular 21 (stipulated in Circular 37 allows the Minister of Health to decide on specific prices for ET services performed at establishments This ET).
3. Supplementing regulations on health insurance support for health insurance costs at maternity homes
Previously, the health care at the maternity home was not supported by health insurance, however, according to Article 4 of Circular 22, the maternity home will be applied the price of medical examination and treatment services of grade IV hospitals. In particular, the price of bed-day services will be applied equally to 50% of the price of class 3 internal medicine bed-day services of grade IV hospitals.
4. Supplementing guidelines on the application of prices for specialized pediatric technical services performed for adults or technical services performed for pediatric patients but with the same name as adults
This is the new guidance stipulated in Circular 21 and Circular 22. Accordingly:
a. Specialized technical services performed for adults but performed for adults or technical services performed for pediatric patients but with the same name as adults but have not specified prices shall: apply the price of technical services according to the list in this Circular and equivalent decisions on techniques and implementation costs.
b. Technical services are only named in the pediatric specialty but performed for patients over 16 years old: the same price for technical services as for the price specified in the pediatric specialty.
These circulars take effect from the date of issuance./.
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