NHSO delays cancer care reimbursement changes to April
The National Health Security Office (NHSO) has decided to delay the implementation of new budget reimbursement criteria for hospitals involved in the Cancer Treatment Anywhere (CA) programme. This postponement aims to address existing reimbursement issues through upcoming discussions.
Dr Athaporn Limpanylers, deputy secretary-general of the NHSO, announced yesterday, December 24, that revisions will be made to the criteria for reimbursing healthcare expenses under the CA programme within the National Health Security System, also known as the 30-baht universal healthcare scheme.
Adjustments will be made to the expenses eligible for reimbursement, which include chemotherapy, hormone medications, radiation therapy, and laboratory tests related to cancer treatment for outpatient and inpatient services. This revision also covers outpatient cancer care under special circumstances as outlined by the NHSO.
Initially, the new reimbursement criteria were scheduled to be enforced on January 1. However, to ensure comprehensive access to cancer treatment services for patients under the National Health Security Act—including diagnostic tests, stage assessments, management of complications, concurrent diseases during treatment, and follow-up evaluations—the NHSO decided to first streamline the reimbursement process.
The NHSO has now set April 1 as the new date for the implementation of these criteria. Until then, hospitals participating in the CA programme will continue to claim expenses under the existing NHSO regulations.
Healthcare providers involved in the programme have been notified about the postponement.
“In the next three months, the NHSO will discuss with medical service providers the need to make necessary preparations, particularly in adjusting the reimbursement system to minimise impacts on cancer patients.”
Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin has also committed to enhancing the treatment capacity of 35 regional hospitals, enabling more of them to manage cancer patients. This initiative aims to alleviate the strain on large hospitals with medical schools equipped to provide complex cancer treatments.
Somsak noted that the NHSO allocates approximately 9 billion baht annually for cancer treatment under the scheme. Of this funding, 2 billion baht is directed towards hospitals managed by the Public Health Ministry, while the remainder is allocated to medical school hospitals primarily located in Bangkok. The minister emphasised that ministry executives concur that regional hospitals are prepared for the upgrade to cancer treatment facilities, reported Bangkok Post.
