The new NHI co-payment system was due to be implemented on May 15; however, the implementation has been delayed due to the Omicron outbreak. In a meeting of the Executive Yuan’s Social Welfare and Health Hygiene Committee, many legislators raised concerns about the much-delayed implementation timetable. Hsueh Jui-Yuan, the MOHW Minister, expressed that the implementation of the new NHI co-payment system depends on the development of the pandemic and the economic situations. The Minister had previously mentioned that the implementation could be around early next year. In this committee meeting, the Minister, for the first time, indicated that the implementation could take place in the 1st quarter of 2023.
Legislator Chang Yu-Mei criticized the Minister for dodging the question about the implementation of the new system.
The MOHW Minister said that the new co-payment system will just inject about NT$10 billion into the NHI. The main purpose of the co-payment system is to promote the concept of user fees and to contain the waste of the NHI resources. Also, prior to the implementation, hospitals will need about a month to adapt to the new co-payment system by modifying their internal computer systems. Due to the uncertainty of the domestic economic recovery, it is not yet possible to set a specific implementation date, said the Minister.
【2022-11-24 / United Daily】
