Regarding the burden of medical expenses and the medical care provision system after the position of the new corona under the Infectious Diseases Act has been shifted to category 5, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will make the costs of free examinations and outpatient care to be borne by the patient. , and announced a policy to review it based on the pillar of having patients accepted by a wide range of medical institutions.
On the 10th, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare clarified a specific policy regarding the burden of medical expenses and the medical care provision system after the position of the new corona under the Infectious Diseases Act was moved to ``Type 5'' on May 8th.
According to this, out of the medical expenses that are currently covered by public funds and free of charge at the counter, the cost of testing and outpatient treatment after a positive test will be reconsidered to be paid by the patient.
However, in order to avoid a sudden increase in the burden, expensive medicines will continue to be free of charge at public expense, and although hospitalization expenses will be required to be borne by the patient in principle, measures will be taken to reduce up to 20,000 yen per month.
Each measure to avoid an increase in burden will continue until the end of September, and then consider whether to extend it based on the infection situation.
On the other hand, with regard to the medical care provision system, we will move forward in stages by April next year, aiming for a system that allows medical examinations at a wide range of medical institutions.
Specifically, with regard to outpatient care, we aim to establish a system to accept seasonal influenza at approximately 64,000 medical institutions nationwide that have tested even one person for seasonal influenza during the season. We are aiming for a system that accepts.
In addition, medical fees paid to medical institutions will reduce the special measures that were added at the time of hospitalization.
In principle, hospitalization adjustments, which are currently being carried out by public health centers, will be gradually shifted to a system between medical institutions.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare plans to have each prefecture formulate a transition plan for the medical system within the next month.
Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Kato "I want to work on a smooth transition"
At a press conference, Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Kato said, ``We will continue to ask the medical institutions that are currently responding, and we will implement support measures so that we can ask new medical institutions to respond, and expand the medical system. I want to," he said.
After that, ``From next week, we will hold briefing sessions for prefectures, etc., and while listening to the opinions of the field, we would like to carefully respond, such as working out the details of operation. The national and local governments will work together. I would like to work toward a smooth transition while gaining the understanding and cooperation of the public."
In addition, he indicated that if the scientific assumptions change, such as the emergence of new mutant strains, the measures will be temporarily strengthened, as in the case of the new corona.