PUBLISHED: 25 Dec 2024 at 08: 45
The National Health Security Office ( NHSO ) has delayed pending discussions with reimbursement issues the introduction of new budget reimbursement criteria for hospitals joining the Cancer Treatment Anywhere ( CA ) program.
The requirements for reimbursing medical expenses under the CA program of the National Health Security System or the 30-baht general medical plan will be revised, according to Dr. Athaporn Limpanylers, assistant secretary-general of the NHSO, on Tuesday.
For both outpatient and inpatient companies, expenses for treatment or estrogen medications, radiation treatment for cancer, and lab tests for tumor treatment may be covered in the same way. This includes cancer treatment for adults who are undergoing special care as per the NHSO.
Initial plans were to place the fresh billing requirements in effect on January 1. The insurance matter must be streamlined initially to ensure that patients under the National Health Security Act can get comprehensive cancer care services, including diagnostic tests, level assessments, management of complications, incurrent diseases during care, and follow-up evaluations.
The NHSO therefore has chosen to move the new conditions to April 1. However, institutions participating in the CA program can continue to say charges under the existing NHSO laws, Dr Athaporn said.
The NHSO has made the delay known to the participating care providers. The NHSO may talk with skilled service providers about the need to make important preparations, especially in order to adjust the insurance system to lessen the impact on cancer patients, he said.
Additionally, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin has pledged to increase the capacity of 35 local facilities in order to enable more of them to cure cancer patients. This will help reduce overcrowding at large hospitals with medical institutions, which have the tools and ability to treat patients with complex cancers.
According to Mr. Somsak, the NHSO spends about 9 billion ringgit annually on cancer care for members.
2 billion ringgit is allocated to the public health ministry’s institutions, and the remainder is allocated to medical schools, with the majority being in Bangkok. The minister stated that ministry executives believed local hospitals are prepared to switch to cancer treatment facilities.