The National Health Insurance Committee (NHIC) on Sept 22 completed negotiations over the 2023 National Health Insurance (NHI) global budget, with representatives of dentistry, Traditional Chinese medicine, and other medical departments coming into consensus. However, due to lingering disagreements between hospital and Western medicine clinic representatives, two global budget proposals have been submitted for the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s decision.

Minister of Health and Welfare (MOHW) Hsueh Jui-yuan said that the NHI safety reserve is projected to stay above the legally required threshold equivalent to one month’s expenditure, it is not likely that a NHI premium rate increase will be required in 2023. However, Minister Hsueh is uncertain whether the NHI safety reserve will fall below threshold and warrant a rate increase in 2024.

Meanwhile, the NHIC voiced support for the MOHW’s mid-to-long-term proposals to reform the NHI and the planned NT$600 million pilot program for inpatient nursing care. National Health Insurance Administration Director General Lee Po-chang said that under the pilot program, 750 medical points are awarded to hospitals for each bed day of inpatient nursing care, with patients paying no more than NT$1,050 in out of pocket charges per bed day to make up the difference, is a step towards the right direction and consistent with international trends to ease the public’s burden, despite concerns among the medical community over potential impact to other expenditure items.

[2022-9-23/United Daily News]