According to the NHI Board, last year’s data on the balance-billing for special medical devices revealed that the use of coronary artery stent systems and cerebral spinal fluid shunt systems accounted for a high proportion.  The NHI Board, hence, suggested full NHI coverage for these two items.  Huang Yu-Wen of the NHIA pointed out that if this suggestion is adopted, the NHIA will have to pay an extra NT$3 billion for the stent systems and NT$160-200 million for the shunt systems annually.  The NHIA has to study the financial impact before making the decision.

Currently, 10 medical device categories are eligible for the balance-billing mechanism, including artificial lens, artificial hip joints, coronary artery stent systems and cerebral spinal fluid shunt systems.  As of this year, the use of coronary artery stent systems has accounted for 67% and the use of cerebral spinal fluid shunt systems has remained over 80%. 

Zhou Wan-Shu, the Executive Secretary of the NHI Board, expressed that the NHIA has to firstly evaluate the NHI global budget, the usage of the two items and the financial impact  then to decide whether to adopt this suggestion or not.

Some NHI board members also mentioned that the contents of the NHIA’s price comparison website for medical devices are too complicated for the general public.  Huang Yu-Wen replied that it is because the website provides a detailed description of the functions of each medical device.  He will bring this issue to the medical societies for further discussion.

【2021-12-18 / United Daily】