What does the Ministry of Health say about the impact of increasing hospital fees according to the new salary level?

On November 14, the Ministry of Health announced that medical examination and treatment facilities under the Ministry of Health and other ministries and sectors have been developing price plan documents according to the cost method, which means maintaining the price structure and issued norms, only adjusting the salary factor. from the basic salary of 1.8 million VND to the basic salary of 2.34 million VND.

Up to now, the Ministry of Health has approved medical examination and treatment prices for about 20 hospitals, including 5 Special-class hospitals and more than 10 Class I hospitals (mainly hospitals under the Ministry of Health such as Central Dermatology, Central Hematology - Blood Transfusion...). From now until the end of 2024, the remaining medical examination and treatment facilities must approve medical examination and treatment prices in accordance with the authority prescribed by the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment.

Localities are implementing price approval based on the salary level of 2.34 million VND for medical examination and treatment facilities in the area. not higher than the highest price of the corresponding service as prescribed by the Ministry of Health. The competent authority approves the price on which day, the unit is allowed to collect the new price from that day.

Approved prices for medical examination and treatment services at public health facilities include direct costs and salaries, wages, allowances and contributions as prescribed; of which salary costs are based on the basic salary of VND 2.34 million, excluding the bonus fund as prescribed in Decree No. 73/2024/ND-CP.

The prices of medical examination and treatment services adjusted this time are on the list paid by the health insurance fund; prices of medical examination and treatment services are paid by the state budget; prices of services not on the list paid by the health insurance fund but are not on-demand services, including:

- Price of medical examination and consultation services;

- Price of hospital bed service per day;

- Technical and testing service prices;

- The price of technical services performed using anesthesia does not include the cost of drugs and oxygen used for the service;

- The cost of medicine and oxygen is paid to the social insurance agency and the patient based on actual usage and the purchase results of the medical facility.

At Bach Mai Hospital, Cho Ray Hospital, Thai Nguyen Central Hospital, Hue Central Hospital (Special class hospitals), from November 1st, new prices will apply:

How does the new policy affect people and the Health Insurance Fund?

"The Health Insurance Fund is capable of balancing", the Ministry of Health assessed the impact of this adjustment in medical examination and treatment service prices. This assessment was made when comparing the annual revenue and expenditure difference of the Health Insurance Fund (cumulative balance in 2023), and the increase in Health Insurance Fund revenue due to the adjustment of the basic salary is often earlier than the adjustment of medical examination and treatment service prices.

According to the Ministry of Health, subjects participating in health insurance such as the poor, ethnic minorities, and social policy beneficiaries are 100% covered by health insurance, so they will not be affected by this adjustment.

Meanwhile, subjects with health insurance cards must co-pay at the rate of 20% or 5% (meaning health insurance covers 80-95%), the co-payment increase is not much and is affordable because the subjects' income is also increased according to the basic salary.

Currently, the health insurance coverage rate in our country is over 93%. The remaining group without health insurance cards only affects the payment according to the price of medical examination and treatment services.