Negotiation on the total amount of health insurance in 2016: the growth rate of grassroots Western medicine reached 5.5%, and the budget increased to 196.58 billion yuan

The total amount of health insurance for 2016 has been negotiated today, and the total amount of primary-level medical insurance has reached the upper limit of 5.5% growth rate, with the annual budget reaching 196.58 billion yuan.

The National Health Insurance Council of the Ministry of Health and Welfare held negotiations on the 116th annual health insurance total with representatives from hospitals, primary-level Western medicine, Chinese medicine and dentists today (23rd). Among them, the total amount of primary-level Western medicine once again reached the 5.5% growth rate limit approved by the Executive Yuan, an increase of 10.247 billion yuan from the previous year, and the annual budget reached 196.58 billion yuan. The National Federation of Medical Doctors Associations of the Republic of China stated that after multiple communications between the medical community and payer representatives, a consensus was finally reached, and it hopes that the additional resources can implement primary care and continue to promote "Healthy Taiwan."

Chen Xiangguo, chairman of the Medical Association, pointed out that in the face of an aging population and an increase in chronic diseases and multiple comorbidities, primary care plays an important role in disease prevention, early intervention and long-term health management. This consultation will also continue to cooperate with the "Healthy Taiwan Three Highs Prevention and Treatment 888" goal to strengthen integrated care of chronic diseases and reduce disease exacerbation and subsequent major medical burden.

Chen Xiangguo said that the outcome of this negotiation also relies on full communication between the National Health Insurance Administration, the National Health Insurance Association and payer representatives and the medical community to reach a consensus on the premise of taking into account medical quality, people's health and the sustainability of health insurance. In the future, it is hoped that new resources will be properly injected into front-line medical services, reflecting medical costs and professional value, and supporting the improvement of medical manpower and care quality.