Reduce inconvenience for patients participating in health insurance related to re-examination appointments
Ms. Tran Thi Trang – Director of the Health Insurance Department (HI), Ministry of Health said that the Ministry of Health has many solutions to solve difficulties related to re-examination appointments and re-examination schedules, in order to reduce troublesome for the patient…
Tran Thi Trang, Director of the Health Insurance Department, Ministry of Health, informed about the solutions that have been, are being and will be implemented to reduce trouble for patients regarding re-examination papers and re-examination appointments.
At the December medical information press meeting held at the Ministry of Health this weekend, it was reported that “the situation of patients with chronic diseases such as cancer going to a tertiary hospital for examination, then having to be re-examined” Checked up many times a year, but each follow-up check-up requires a referral/hospital transfer to be covered by health insurance. Due to cumbersome procedures, many patients do not have the patience to ask for a transfer certificate, so they spend their own money to get medical examination services that are not covered by health insurance despite their limited economic ability. Some people even no longer comply with follow-up examinations’, MSc. Tran Thi Trang, Director of the Department of Health Insurance (HI), Ministry of Health, said “it is true that this situation occurs but it is not the basis Everyone has this situation.”
Ms. Tran Thi Trang said that regarding this issue, the Ministry of Health has had many solutions to solve difficulties related to re-examination appointment letters and re-examination schedules.
Firstly, according to Directive No. 25, 2020 of the Minister of Health, facilities must separate patients for follow-up appointments, implement an appointment system on the phone, online… so as not to have too many patients back up. at the same time, causing longer waiting times. The Ministry of Health regularly issues official dispatches urging medical examination and treatment facilities to implement this.
Second, the Ministry of Health is researching a simpler way to make follow-up appointments. Accordingly, instead of having to be the leader of the medical facility to sign this paper as currently, it can be delegated to the heads of departments and rooms in the medical examination and treatment facility so that many people can sign this paper, helping patients not to worry. must wait.
Third, Decree 75 amends and supplements a number of articles of Decree 146 detailing and guiding measures to implement a number of articles of the Health Insurance Law issued by the Government, which has just taken effect from December 3, and also has regulations related to this appointment letter, including solutions to reduce administrative procedures and inconvenience for patients.
Specifically, according to the old regulations, patients can have a re-examination appointment at a certain time or any time before the re-examination appointment date if there are unusual signs (symptoms). The appointment letter is only valid for one-time use within 10 working days from the date of the re-examination appointment.
If you do not go back for a check-up after 10 days, the appointment letter will expire. If you want to receive health insurance at the correct route, you must apply for a transfer certificate according to regulations.
As for the new regulations, according to Ms. Trang, “If the patient cannot return within 10 days of the re-examination appointment, they can contact the medical facility in advance to request another appointment. That way, patients don’t have to ask for appointment papers again and don’t have to wait” – Ms. Trang said.
In the near future, the Ministry of Health will apply information technology and digitize documents such as referral papers, hospital discharge papers and re-exams in electronic form.
“We are asking for opinions from medical examination and treatment facilities and social insurance agencies about information fields to digitize these documents. After being issued, we will run a trial for 6 months. If appropriate, it will help reduce inconvenience for patients. sick person” – Ms. Trang said./.
