PUBLISHED: 19 Oct 2024 at 04: 00
The Private Hospital Association ( PHA ) reaffirmed its call yesterday to the Social Security Office ( SSO ) to increase the reimbursement rate for an inpatient with expensive disease care to 15, 000 baht per case.
After the first meeting of a special subcommittee on the criteria and payment rates for contract hospitals under the Social Security System ( SSS), Dr. Chalerm Harnphanich, a former president of the PHA, stated on Thursday that the hospitals ‘ average medical costs have always been higher than the SSO reimburses.
Dr. Chalerm criticized Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn for making a pledge to increase the rate of intensive care insurance to 12, 000 ringgit per event.
At least 70 private facilities expressed their intent to cancel their contracts with the SSO by the end of this year, unless the SSO changes the settlement costs, last week, in a commitment made by the minister.
They claimed that the insurance costs had not changed in five years and that the amount of money had even been lowered in some categories.
According to Dr. Chalerm, the true cost of health care for sufferers receiving expensive-to-treat diseases at private hospitals has increased since 2020.
The PHA suggested that the SSO base its determination of the insurance level for private hospitals on true costs rather than the costs of state-run hospitals, he said.
According to Dr Chalerm, the average price for intensive health care at a state-owned clinic is 13, 800 baht per event, while that at a medical institution hospital is 30, 000 baht.
He said both sides agreed in principle at today’s conference that any costs below 12, 000 ringgit were intolerable, and the PHA has made an initial request for a 15, 000-baht center charge per case.
He claimed that despite the reimbursement rate being changed to 15, 000 baht, the sum would still only partially cover the actual costs associated with treating some illnesses.
Oct. 29 will be the next meeting of the subcommittee, which will also address details regarding the medical expenses.