Cancer patients may soon receive chemotherapy at home

Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang speaks on the sidelines of a meeting at the legislature in Taipei yesterday. Photo: CNA

INSURANCE FACTOR:If chemotherapy at hospital is OK and they have a vascular access port, cancer patients can undergo sessions at home, the health minister said

By Shelley Shan / Staff reporter, with CNA

People with cancer might soon be able to undergo treatment at home, as the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Financial Supervisory Commission （FSC） work to address medical insurance coverage issues.

The FSC yesterday met with insurance companies to discuss the launch of a sweeping review of medical insurance claim rules, focusing on issues related to covering people switching from inpatient care to outpatient care, one-day surgeries and home-based acute care.

Many medical treatments that could only proceed when people are hospitalized can now be done at home or in outpatient care departments, Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang （石崇良） told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting at the legislature in Taipei.

Two years ago, the ministry began introducing home-based acute care, while intravenous antibiotic therapy has been available in outpatient care departments since last year, Shih said.

“The next step is to make home-based cancer treatment an option for patients,” Shih said. “If they do not have any problem undergoing chemotherapy at hospital, and they have a vascular access port implanted, they can have subsequent chemotherapy sessions at home.”

“That would help prevent cancer patients with a low immune systems from contracting hospital-acquired infections,” he added.

Home-base chemotherapy is already available in other countries, including France, Shih said, adding that people with cancer can continue their chemotherapy on schedule without being limited by hospital bed availability.

People with cancer of all types can opt to undergo chemotherapy at home, he said.

However, eligibility is subject to physician evaluation on a case-by-case basis, he added.

The home-treatment option would be available from the second half of this year, Shih said.

The ministry is working with the FSC to change medical insurance claim rules, as some people might not opt for the new healthcare model because their medical insurance plans only cover their bills if they are hospitalized, Shih said.

Hospitals and patients can benefit from the availability of home-based chemotherapy, he said.

“With the new healthcare model, there would be a significant decrease in hospitalization expenses,” he said. “For patients, the treatment is already included in their medical insurance plans and insurance firms should pay for the treatment even if it is done at home.”

Home-based treatment would also enhance hospital bed utilization rates and alleviate shortages of beds driven by a lack of healthcare personnel, he said.

The FSC is discussing the issue and would consult with industry players, he added.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES

不用抽 不用搶 現在用APP看新聞 保證天天中獎 點我下載APP 按我看活動辦法