The study for reviewing the nursing care fee once every three years is in full swing.
Since the management of long-term care establishments has deteriorated due to the influence of the new coronavirus, it was found that the government is considering making a positive revision following the previous one.
It is expected that the government will make adjustments to settle the matter within the week.
The long-term care fees paid to long-term care establishments are reviewed once every three years, and full-scale examination is underway for the revision in April next year.
The cost of long-term care is increasing year by year due to the aging of the population, and even excluding the out-of-pocket cost, it exceeds 10 trillion yen.
On the other hand, due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection, the movement of elderly people to refrain from using long-term care services has spread, and as of October, nearly one-third of long-term care establishments "has worsened their balance than before the epidemic." I answered a survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
According to the people concerned, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare requested a positive revision in response to the voice of the nursing care site saying, "If the management deteriorates further, we will not be able to provide sufficient services," while the Ministry of Finance was initially cautious about raising it. It showed a posture.
However, after that, the Ministry of Finance turned around and informed the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of its intention to respond to the positive revision.
On the other hand, there is a view that it is difficult to raise the price significantly, and it is expected that the government will make adjustments to settle the price within the week, as to how much the price will be raised compared to the previous revision, which was a 0.54% plus revision.
Changes in long-term care costs and revision rates
It has been 20 years since the long-term care insurance system started in 2000.
The number of people who need long-term care continues to increase due to the aging of the population, and the cost of long-term care in FY2018 has more than tripled to 10.2 trillion yen, excluding self-pay.
Furthermore, it is estimated that by 2025, when all baby boomers will be over 75 years old, long-term care costs, excluding self-pay, will reach approximately 15 trillion yen, and by 2040, when aging peaks, it will reach approximately 25 trillion yen. It has been.
Moreover, the number of active generations who support the system is decreasing, and how to curb the growth of long-term care costs in order to maintain the long-term care insurance system is also an issue.
Against this background, the review of nursing care fees carried out two years ago in 2015 was minus 2.27%, the largest negative revision ever.
Last time, in FY2018, it was revised to 0.54% in order to secure long-term care personnel, but the remuneration is reduced at large-scale offices of day service.
There are many long-term care establishments whose management has deteriorated due to these effects, but this is becoming even more severe due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection.
In addition to refraining from using the virus for fear of infection by the elderly, there is a growing movement on the part of business establishments to restrict the use of the virus in order to prevent it from being brought into nursing care facilities.
According to a private credit bureau, the number of "bankruptcies of long-term care providers" confirmed nationwide in the last year was 111, the highest number since the start of the long-term care insurance system, but this has already been confirmed. It has been.
In this revision, while restraining the growth of long-term care costs, the judgment was made in consideration of the actual situation at the site so that people in need of long-term care will not be unable to receive the necessary services due to the prolonged epidemic of the new coronavirus. Is required.
Expert "Needs a positive revision that exceeds the previous time"
Associate Professor Toshihisa Hayasaka of Toyo University, who is familiar with the field of long-term care, said, "The management of long-term care providers has not been stable at all due to the large negative revision two years ago, and it has been further depressed due to the influence of the new coronavirus. Due to the severity of the situation, the labor shortage is worsening, and there is a risk that we will not be able to provide the necessary services as it is. "
On top of that, "Nursing care is a necessary service for the people, and it is necessary to firmly maintain it as an important social infrastructure that protects lives in the same way as medical care. It is necessary to make a positive revision over the previous time so that human resources can be retained." I point out.