Amid a surge in daily caseload, the adjustments to copayment rules that were set to take effect on May 15 has since drawn concerns from stakeholders, with the Kaohsiung City Medical Association the Kuomintang caucus urging to halt the adjustments to ease the economic burden on the public. During a meeting with the medical community on May 11, Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung said that the copayment adjustments will be delayed to prevent adding additional pressure on the public.

Department of Social Insurance Director Shang Tung-fu said that implementation of the copayment adjustments will now be dependent on the COVID-19 situation in Taiwan. While the decision to halt the adjustment has been finalized, it will take until May 12 or May 13 to complete the required administrative process.

Shinkong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital Vice Superintendent Hung Tzu-jen said that his hospital has made the necessary adjustments in its internal administrative processes in anticipation of the revisions to copayment rules that was set to take effect on May 15, but will comply with Minister Chen’s decision, which was made with the consideration of public opinion. Members of the medical community who participated in the meeting with Minister Chen voiced support for the decision to halt the revision to copayment rules, but expressed ambivalence towards whether the better implementation of the referral system will bring lasting improvements to National Health Insurance finances.

A longtime observer of the political scene and medical community said that if the pandemic continues to escalate, there will be little chance of implementing the new copayment rules, due to the hurdles presented by the upcoming local elections at the end of 2022, and the presidential race in 2024.

[2022-5-11/United Daily New]