Cabinet Approves New UCEP Critical Patient Treatment Criteria

Matichon•Politics•1d ago

Reader Briefing

The Cabinet approved new criteria for the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (UCEP) program to ensure critical patients receive immediate care without upfront costs.

•The Cabinet approved the UCEP criteria and conditions as proposed by the Ministry of Public Health.
•Hospitals must treat critical emergency patients for 72 hours without charging the patient first.
•The National Health Security Office (NHSO) will verify and summarize expenses for reimbursement.
•Patients can appeal emergency level screening results to the NIEM within 90 days.

Overview

•The Cabinet approved the criteria, methods, and conditions for the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (UCEP) program on September 15.
•Under the new UCEP criteria, hospitals must provide emergency treatment to critical patients to remove them from danger without conditions on payment collection.
•Hospitals are required to treat critical emergency patients for up to 72 hours from the time of admission.
•Hospitals must bill the National Health Security Office (NHSO) for expenses incurred within the first 72 hours.
•After the initial 72-hour period, hospitals may collect costs from the patient's legal health fund, relevant agencies, or the patient themselves.
•In cases of disagreement with the emergency screening level, patients may appeal to the National Institute for Emergency Medicine (NIEM) within 90 days.
•Ms. Ploythale Laksmeesangjan stated that the UCEP update will make emergency medical management more appropriate and increase survival opportunities for critical patients.
•The new criteria are effective from the date of the Cabinet's resolution onwards.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Read on Matichon (Thai Version)View in Google Translate

Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Entities

Organization

Cabinet(ครม.)

The body that approved the new UCEP criteria and conditions.

Ministry of Public Health(กระทรวงสาธารณสุข)

The agency that proposed the UCEP criteria to the Cabinet.

National Institute for Emergency Medicine (NIEM)(สพฉ.)

The agency responsible for consulting on emergency screening and handling appeals regarding emergency levels.

National Health Security Office (NHSO)(สปสช.)

The agency responsible for verifying expenses and processing payments for the first 72 hours of UCEP treatment.

Social Security Office(สำนักงานประกันสังคม)

The agency managing the Social Security health benefit system for transferred critical patients.

Comptroller General's Department(กรมบัญชีกลาง)ℹ️

The agency that defines guidelines for civil servant medical benefits.

Person

Ploythale Laksmeesangjan(พลอยทะเล ลักษมีแสงจันทร์)

Deputy Government Spokesperson who disclosed the Cabinet resolution.

Policy

Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (UCEP)(Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients : UCEP)

A program governing the treatment and expense determination for critical emergency patients.

Law

Royal Decree on Medical Welfare Benefits 2010(พระราชกฤษฎีกาเงินสวัสดิการเกี่ยวกับการรักษาพยาบาล พ.ศ. 2553)

The law governing medical welfare benefits, such as those for civil servants.

Place

Government House(ทำเนียบรัฐบาล)ℹ️

The location where the Cabinet meeting and subsequent disclosure took place.