The National Health Insurance Committee (NHIC) on Sept. 20 commenced negotiations on the 2024 National Health Insurance global budget, however, no consensus were made apart from the earmarks for outpatient dialysis, traditional Chinese medicine and dentistry. Due to significant differences in the proposed budget growth rates by payer and provider representatives for hospitals and Western medicine clinics, both proposals will be submitted for Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan's final decision.

In the 2024 global budget negotiation, providers recommended a 4.660% growth rate for hospital budgets, compared to the 3.626% by payers. For the Western medicine clinics, providers suggested 4.690% growth rate, with payer representatives suggesting 3.077%. Payers and providers, however, are in agreement with the proposed 3% growth rate for outpatient dialysis, 4.221% growth rate for traditional Chinese medicine, and 2.436% growth rate for dentistry.

Additionally, suggestions by providers for more funding on the prevention of hypertension, metabolic syndrome, inpatient visits for seniors, as well as improving compensation for nursing professionals, did not gain the support of payers. Taiwan Medical Association Chairperson Chou Ching-ming, who participated in the global budget negotiation, said that while the public has placed more importance on health in the post-pandemic era and therefore should be in agreement with increasing healthcare spending, payers are still looking to limit spending, which does not meet with providers' needs.

[2023-9-20/United Daily News]