Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ6: Elderly Health Care Voucher Pilot Scheme
Following is a question by the Hon Cheung Kwok-che and a reply by the Secretary
for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (December
16):
Question:
Since the implementation of the Elderly Health Care Voucher Pilot Scheme early
this year, elderly groups have incessantly relayed to me that the amount of
subsidy of the health care voucher is inadequate and the Scheme lacks publicity.
Moreover, it is difficult for the eligible elderly to locate healthcare
providers participating in the Scheme. In this connection, will the Government
inform this Council:
(a) of the number of elderly persons who have used health care vouchers to date,
as well as the average amount of subsidy they used each time;
(b) of the current number of private medical practitioners (including Chinese
medicine practitioners, dentists and chiropractors) participating in this
Scheme, as well as their respective percentages in the total number of private
medical practitioners in Hong Kong of the number of private medical
practitioners who have withdrawn from this Scheme to date; and
(c) when it will review the aforesaid Scheme, as well as the methodology and
procedure of the review?
Reply:
President,
The Government launched the three-year Elderly Health Care Voucher Pilot Scheme
(the Scheme) on January 1, 2009 to provide five health care vouchers of $50 each
annually to elders aged 70 or above to partially subsidise their use of private
primary care services and to provide additional choices for them on top of the
existing public primary care services. Healthcare professionals who are eligible
to participate in the Scheme include Western medical practitioners, Chinese
medicine practitioners, dentists, chiropractors, nurses, physiotherapists,
occupational therapists, radiographers and medical laboratory technologists.
The Scheme tries out the concept of "money follow the patient" and pilots a new
model for future subsidisation of primary care services. We hope that through
the use of healthcare vouchers, elders will be encouraged to choose private
healthcare service providers in their nearby communities for primary care
services which best suit their needs and establish a continuous-care
relationship with them. We also hope that this pilot scheme will enhance our
understanding of the needs and use of healthcare services of the elders, thereby
enabling the Administration to devise appropriate delivery model for healthcare
services.
The Scheme has been designed with the convenience of the elders in mind. Through
an electronic system, healthcare service providers will create accounts for
elders who use vouchers for the first time, deduct vouchers directly from their
accounts after they have received the healthcare services, and provide them with
a printout showing the number of unused vouchers. Under this arrangement, elders
need not pre-register, pre-collect healthcare vouchers, nor carry the vouchers.
They only need to show their Hong Kong Identity Cards or Certificates of
Exemption at clinics displaying the Scheme logo and use their vouchers
immediately.
Since the launch of the Scheme, we have maintained close communication with the
healthcare sector to gather their feedback for improving the operation. We have
already implemented a series of system enhancement measures and streamlined the
procedures for the convenience of both the healthcare service providers and
elders. The Administration will continue to closely monitor the implementation
of the Scheme and will consider further streamlining measures as appropriate.
Prior to launching the Scheme, we have publicised the Scheme through District
Councillors, non-government organisations, elderly homes and relevant Government
departments. In addition to brochures and posters, we will continue to promote
the Scheme through the television and radio, and will continue to liaise with
welfare organisations providing elderly services on how to further enhance the
promotion of the Scheme to the elders.
I now proceed to reply each part of the question -
(a) As at December 5, 2009, over 260,000 elders have opened voucher accounts
(constituting over 40% of elders eligible for the Scheme). The Department of
Health has processed over 321,000 voucher claims. Over 70% of the elders used
one to two vouchers per visit.
(b) As at December 5, 2009, over 2,500 healthcare service providers have
enrolled in the Scheme (including over 1,700 who have provided services to
elders using vouchers) with over 3,100 practices located in all districts. The
number of practices in each district ranges from about 30 to 500. Since the
launch of the Scheme up to December 5, 2009, 113 healthcare service providers
have withdrawn their enrollment from the Scheme, involving 120 practices. Among
them, 37 withdrew due to a change in the clinics in which they work. During the
same period, over 700 applications (involving over 1,000 practices) for
enrollment were received. The number of enrolled healthcare service providers
continues to increase.
(c) The Scheme has been implemented for about one year. The Administration will
conduct an interim review in 2010 as pledged, and also a full review after the
three-year pilot period has ended. The reviews will cover the effectiveness of
the Scheme, the appropriateness of its scope, subsidy amount, etc. Besides
conducting statistical analysis and reviewing of operational details, we will
also conduct surveys to gather feedback from both the elders and healthcare
service providers in the reviews.
Ends/Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:18
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