Page 112 - 2024 Taiwan Health and Welfare Report

2024 Taiwan Health and Welfare Report

social workers and nutritionists. A total of 38 teams and The exposure of serious violations is also to push for
233 hospitals are currently in the program. More than improvements in care quality by medical service providers.
75,000 cases were accepted at the end of 2023. In 90% NHIA has set up a "Price Comparison Platform of Self-
of the patients, clear progress was made in their function, Paid Medical Devices" which allows the general public to
over 80% of patients returned home smoothly. compare the out-of-pocket differences and prices of self-pay
To continuously and reasonably review NHI Fee items for medical devices across different healthcare facilities.
Schedule, in 2023, dedicated budgets of NTD 2 billion and Through the utilization of open data, mobile applications
NTD 1 billion were allocated within the hospitals and Western (APP), and LINE@ interface, individuals can easily access
Medicine primary care sectors, respectively, for "Promoting and reference information regarding various item categories,
Payment Equity for Medical Services (including subsidies materials, and explanations related to out-of-pocket
for revisions to medical device usage regulations)." These differences. This initiative aims to provide convenience for the
funds were used to address cost increases associated with public when making informed decisions.
the single-use device (SUD) policy and the unavailability of The "Patient Opinion Sharing Platform" was
reusable alternatives for certain medical devices. Priority expanded to allow general public review of new drugs/
was given to adjusting the payment points or surcharge medical materials under consideration for NHI coverage.
rates for 73 affected medical service items. Additionally, For implementing procedural justice, patients/patient
payment points for 145 primary care medical service items groups/caregivers can make suggestions or provide their
were revised, and the child surcharge methods for surgeries experiences, including treatment outcomes, improvements
and anesthesia, as well as the surgical payment methods, in quality of life, and achieved expected effects. From
were aligned with those of hospitals. Efforts will continue October 1, 2021, the platform was added the functionality
to comprehensively review and adjust medical service to share opinions on the expanded coverage of medication
payment standards based on the Resource-Based Relative reimbursement. Regular communication meetings are held
Value Scale (RBRVS) model, reasonably reflecting the with patient groups to gather feedback on their experience
cost differences and resource utilization of various medical using the platform, and platform features are flexibly
services. adjusted accordingly.
New oral drugs for treating Hepatitis C (Direct Acting
Antiviral Agents, DAA) with improved cure rate, reduced Section 6 Caring for the Disadvantaged and
side effects, and a shorter course of treatment began Safeguarding Remote Areas
to launch as of 2015. For more HCV patients to receive 1. Subsidies for the Economically Disadvantaged
treatments with these new drugs as early as possible, they (1) Besides subsidizing premiums for specific
were added to the NHI coverage since January 2017, and underprivileged groups, there are other assistance
all department physicians are authorized to prescribe DAA measures as shown in Table 8-1.
from October, 2021. The NHIA has earmarked a budget (2) Since June 2016, NHI has implemented "Decoupling
up to NTD 40.171 billion for funding these Anti HCV drugs of the Payment of Premiums from the Right to
to benefit over 160,000 patients from 2017 to 2023. Receive Medical Care," (NHI card unlocking) after
HCV RNA testing at 12 weeks after the completion of the which people can seek medical treatment as long as
treatment course found that the treatment was successful they apply for insurance.
on 98.4% of the cases, with no detectable viral count.
(3) Using Feedback Fund of Public Welfare Lottery to
Section 5 Disclosure of Information to Reduce the Financial Burden of Health Care for the
Improve Quality Disadvantaged: Assistance provided in 2023 included
Information on NHI services such as the quality of subsidies of NHI premium arrears and fees associated
care at contracted medical service providers, the financial with treatment. Assistance was provided 66,900 cases
reports, the number of inpatient and outpatient claims and of people, with approximately NTD 257 million in total.
payment point values, nurse-to-patient ratio, etc. are all 2. Caring for People in Mountainous, Remote and
published on the NHIA official website. Such information Medically Underserved Areas
allows the general public and interested parties to (1) The Integrated Delivery System (IDS) implemented by
understand the operating efficiency of medical institutions. the NHIA in mountain and offshore areas: As of 2023,

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