The prices of medical devices targeting on the private healthcare market are quite chaotic.  Even under the NHI balance billing scheme, the fees charged to patients vary from item to item and from hospital to hospital.  The NHIA is to introduce a new balance billing system for medical devices by setting the upper charge limit for 352 medical devices in 8 product categories.  The new system will be rolled out in August.  It will affect about 89% of the medical devices qualified for the balance billing scheme.  About 133,000 patients will get a smaller healthcare bill, said the NHIA.

The Taiwan Healthcare Reform Foundation welcomed this reform, but expressed their concerns that it may encourage some low cost clinics to increase their charges to the upper limit.  Also, the NHIA should implement a rolling adjustment mechanism to reflect the deflation of medical devices.  Huang Yu-Wen, a specialist from the NHIA, did not rule out the possibility that some hospitals may push the charges to the upper limit; however, the price differences among hospitals will certainly be narrowed.  The NHIA will conduct annul price & volume surveys on medical devices to support the rolling charge review.

Some medical devices, such as artificial crystal lens, heart valve, coronary stent and artificial heart rhythm regulator, are available under the NHI, though the provision is quite basic.  Patients can top up the price differences if they opt for more advanced versions or products with special materials or functions.  The charges are determined by hospitals.  Now, the NHIA brings in the law and sets the ceiling charges for 352 items so as to control the price differences, said Tsai Shu-Ling, Vice Director General of the NHIA. 

Taking multi-focal intraocular lenses (IOLs) for example, medical centers in Taipei charge patients from NT$81,000 to N$96,000 for the device.  The NHIA sets a ceiling charge at NT$68,838. 

Tsai Shu-Ling expressed that at the initial stage, the NHIA will provide guidance to those breaking the charge regulation.  3-time repeated offenders will be penalized by one-month suspension of the NHI contract.  The NHI has created a website to help patients to check the prices.

【2020-06-10 / United Daily News】