Recently, reporters from the VSS’s electronic information portal interviewed Mr. Nguyen Duc Hoa, Deputy General Director of the VSS, regarding the organization and implementation of health insurance policies by the sector in 2023.
Reporter: In 2023, it is evaluated as a successful year in expanding the coverage of health insurance by the VSS sector. The proportion of health insurance participants has reached 93.35% of the population. How do you assess this result and how effective has the sector been in ensuring healthcare for health insurance participants in the past year?
Deputy General Director Nguyen Duc Hoa: By the end of 2023, the entire country had 93.307 million people with health insurance cards, achieving a coverage rate of 93.35% of the population, with over 174.8 million healthcare visits covered by health insurance (an increase of over 23.4 million visits compared to 2022), with health insurance spending of about 124.3 trillion dong. Consequently, health insurance policies have increasingly become part of people's lives, helping millions of citizens access healthcare and reducing the financial burden when they fall ill. This demonstrates the political determination in the healthcare of our Party and State.
As the organizing agency responsible for implementing health insurance policies, in the past year, the VSS has been proactive, positive, and responsible in coordinating with ministries, especially the Ministry of Health, in the process of drafting and amending health insurance laws.
At the same time, the VSS has regularly concerned itself with leading and guiding provincial health insurance departments to timely and closely coordinate with relevant sectors in implementing health insurance policies in their localities, organizing conferences or direct meetings with the leaders of provincial People's Councils, People's Committees, and local departments to discuss development solutions for participants. The sector continues to reform administrative procedures, apply information technology, and digital transformation, as well as enhance communication efforts...
Especially, in the past year, the VSS sector has actively implemented the program 'Providing health insurance cards to people in difficult circumstances' in provinces and cities nationwide, targeting groups such as those who have newly escaped poverty, those in near-poor households, those with average living standards who have not yet participated in health insurance, and those in other difficult and vulnerable situations.
Reporter: It can be seen that in the past year, the VSS has proactively coordinated with the Ministry of Health in building a legal system related to health insurance and has implemented many solutions to overcome obstacles in settling health insurance costs, ensuring the interests of people participating in health insurance. Could you share more about these solutions, Sir?
Deputy General Director Nguyen Duc Hoa: In addition to timely and full payment of health insurance benefits to participants, in recent times, the VSS has proactively and positively coordinated with the healthcare sector to propose and implement solutions to timely resolve and ensure the source of health insurance funds for healthcare facilities to provide medical services, maximizing the benefits for health insurance participants as stipulated by the law.
Reporter: Currently, the VSS sector is considered one of the effective agencies in implementing digital transformation and applying information technology. Could you please share how the digital transformation and IT application in the field of health insurance have brought specific benefits to participants, healthcare facilities, and the Social Security agency itself?
Deputy General Director Nguyen Duc Hoa:
The submission and receipt of documents and the resolution of administrative procedures related to health insurance are implemented flexibly through various methods such as: Directly at the One-Stop Department; Via public postal services (for organizations and businesses without fees); Through electronic transactions and online public services (e-Government): The VSS has completed the provision of level 4 public services for all administrative procedures of the sector (including 25 administrative procedures), including 05 procedures related to registration, adjustment of health insurance premiums, and issuance and replacement of health insurance cards.
In addition, the health insurance appraisal information system of the VSS has brought many benefits to health insurance participants, healthcare facilities, the Social Security agency, and management authorities. Specifically, it significantly reduces waiting time for healthcare, health insurance card information can be looked up online and directly updated into the healthcare facility's management software; Cases of card extension, eligibility for exemptions and co-payment are updated immediately, ensuring that patients receive full health insurance benefits while undergoing treatment at hospitals.
The application of 'VssID - Health Insurance Number' on mobile devices is truly a communication channel, providing participants and beneficiaries of health insurance policies with information, utilities, and public services in the most convenient, easy, and fastest way.
Reporter: Moving into the new year 2024, could you share about the determination and solutions of the VSS sector in implementing and organizing health insurance policies?
Deputy General Director Nguyen Duc Hoa: In 2024, it is forecasted that there will continue to be many difficulties and challenges in the organization and implementation of health insurance policies by the sector. However, the entire sector remains determined to strive to achieve a participation rate of 95.15% of the population in health insurance, moving towards universal health insurance as stipulated in Resolution No. 20-NQ/TW dated October 25, 2017, on strengthening the protection, care, and improvement of people's health in the new situation of the Central Executive Committee. Accordingly, the VSS sector will implement synchronized solutions such as:
Continuing to vigorously promote the proactive coordination role with relevant ministries and sectors in the process of drafting documents guiding the implementation of health insurance policies, ensuring close adherence to practical requirements, and timely addressing emerging issues.
Ensuring the allocation of funds for health insurance healthcare facilities to operate in accordance with regulations; fully and timely disbursing health insurance costs for participants. The entire sector will further promote the strong development of IT application in the organization and implementation of health insurance.
Directing and leading provincial Social Security departments to continue to play an advisory role with the Provincial Party Committees, People's Committees in strongly directing the organization and implementation of health insurance policies and laws in the locality: expanding the effective coverage of health insurance; preventing profiteering and misuse of health insurance funds; ensuring sustainable balance of health insurance funds in the locality.
Reporter: Thank you very much, Deputy General Director!
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