Reported by Huang Yu-Fang from Taipei

The NHIA published a statistic today, showing that the NHI spent NT$162.5 billion on treatments of severe injuries in 2013.  It means that NT$28 out of every NT$100 NHI expenses was spent on patients with severe injuries, said the NHIA.  As the population of cancer patients keeps growing, the number of severe injury cards issued by the NHIA is also on a rise.  The NHIA expressed that about 1 million cards have already been issued. 

The NHIA has commissioned the NTUH and the KFSYSCC to review the validity period of severe injury cards issued to patients with cancers.  The NHIA intends to shorten the validity period of the severe injury cards issued to patients with some cancers whose treatment period is shorter than the others.

As of the end of 2013, there were 920,000 severe injury card holders.  Among them, cancer patients account for the highest share, about 480,000.  Severe injury card holders are exempt from the co-payment for treatments and hospitalization.  However, as the population is ageing and the number of cancer patients increases, severe injury cards have imposed a heavy financial burden on the NHI.

According to the NHIA’s analysis, on average, the NHI spent NT$3.3million on each haemophilia patient.  It means each haemophilia patient was supported by 166 premium fee payers.  They were the most costly patient group.  

Lin A-Min of the NHIA expressed that the severe injury card currently has a validity period of 5 years.  The NHIA has commissioned the NTUH and the KFSYSCC to study the possibility of shortening the validity period of severe injury cards for patients with colorectal cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, oral cavity cancer, prostate cancer, thyroid cancer and bladder cancer.

Lin A-Min expressed that different cancers require different length of treatments.  Early diagnosis can also help expedite the treatment.  Therefore, the NHIA is now considering reviewing the validity period of the severe injury cards.  
 
【2014-07-08/ United Evening News】