On October 24, continuing the 8th session, the National Assembly listened to Chairman of the Social Committee Nguyen Thuy Anh present a summary report on the review of the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Health Insurance.
Ms. Nguyen Thuy Anh said that the Social Committee basically agreed with the scope of amendments and supplements and found that the content of the draft Law was basically consistent with the purpose and requirements of law making.
The amended provisions closely follow the four policies approved in the proposal to draft the Law.
The review report shows that the Social Committee basically agrees with the addition of health insurance participants, payment responsibilities and health insurance payment methods stipulated in the draft Law.
The Social Committee recommends that the Government and the agency in charge of drafting the Law continue to review to ensure that the subjects participating in health insurance as prescribed in other legal documents are fully reflected in this amendment.
Regarding health insurance participants being students, the Social Committee finds that it is not necessary to amend or supplement this regulation because it is being implemented stably.
At the same time, it is recommended that the Government study the option of increasing the support level for this group instead of the regulation allowing the choice of payment method to reduce family expenses in Article 13.
Regarding the scope and level of benefits for health insurance participants, the Social Committee recommends that the Drafting Committee only adjust the level and scope of benefits for some groups of subjects after fully and comprehensively assessing the impact; ensuring equality of benefits among health insurance participants of similar nature.
The Social Committee highly appreciates the Government's proposal to supplement regulations on payment for medicine and medical equipment costs transferred between medical examination and treatment facilities, and costs for paraclinical services of patients that have been prescribed but must be performed elsewhere to ensure the rights of health insurance participants as well as ensure quality and timeliness in medical examination and treatment.
However, to fundamentally resolve the rights of health insurance patients, it is recommended that the Drafting Committee continue to study regulations on payment mechanisms through hospitals or directly for patients when they have to buy medicine, supplies, and medical equipment themselves, such as payment for paraclinical service costs as prescribed in Clause 5, Article 31.
The audit report also stated that it is necessary to supplement regulations clarifying the concepts of "late payment of health insurance", "evasion of health insurance payment" and specifying sanctions for late payment and evasion of health insurance payment.
However, there needs to be a thorough impact assessment and broad consultation with affected subjects; the application of the provisions of the Law on Social Insurance needs to be carefully calculated and adjusted to suit the health insurance sector.
In addition, it is recommended to study and supplement the form of warning, urging, informing, and reminding businesses that are late in paying health insurance for employees before applying administrative and criminal measures in Clause 3, Article 49.
