NBHC Approves Higher Pay for Liver/Heart Transplants, Saves on Drugs

MGR Online•Politics•7h ago

Reader Briefing

Thailand's National Health Security Office (NBHSO) board has approved increased reimbursement rates for liver and heart transplant procedures under the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) program, funded by savings from reduced compensation for immunosuppressant drugs.

•The NBHC board approved an increase in reimbursement rates for liver and heart transplants.
•The increased funding comes from budget savings achieved by adjusting compensation for immunosuppressant drugs.
•The changes aim to improve patient access to complex and high-cost treatments.
•Specific adjustments include higher pre-operative expenses for recipients and donors, and revised rates for adult and pediatric liver transplants.

Overview

•The NBHC board has resolved to approve the proposal to adjust reimbursement rates for liver and heart transplant services within the National Health Security System (Gold Card 30 Baht).
•The adjustment uses budget savings gained from modifying the reimbursement rate for immunosuppressant drugs to manage operational expenses.
•Immunosuppressant drug compensation after surgery has been adjusted: Month 13-24 reduced from 20,000 THB/month to 18,000 THB/month; after 24 months reduced from 15,000 THB/month to 13,000 THB/month.
•Pre-operative expenses for recipients increased from 30,000 THB per case to 40,000 THB per case, and for living donors from 40,000 THB per case to 45,000 THB per case.
•Heart transplant surgery is now a lump sum of 600,000 THB per case.
•Pediatric liver transplant surgery is set at 660,000 THB per case.
•For adult liver transplants, particularly for patients with advanced cirrhosis, the reimbursement is now separated: 200,000 THB per case for donor liver surgery and 660,000 THB per case for recipient liver transplant surgery.
•Reimbursement for complications from Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has been introduced: 180,000 THB per case for prevention and treatment, and 40,000 THB per case for detection in blood.

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Key Quotes

Ms. Ploytalae Laksameseangchan

"Organ transplantation is a vital service that saves lives, especially for severe liver disease patients, children requiring liver transplants, and end-stage heart failure patients."

การปลูกถ่ายอวัยวะเป็นบริการสำคัญที่ช่วยรักษาชีวิตผู้ป่วย โดยเฉพาะผู้ป่วยโรคตับระยะรุนแรง เด็กที่จำเป็นต้องปลูกถ่ายตับ และผู้ป่วยหัวใจล้มเหลวระยะสุดท้าย

Ms. Ploytalae Laksameseangchan

"This reimbursement adjustment is not just about changing figures, but about strengthening service system stability, enabling service units to continuously care for patients, reducing cost burdens not aligned with reality, and increasing fair access for Gold Card patients to complex, high-cost treatments."

การปรับอัตราจ่ายครั้งนี้จึงไม่ใช่เพียงการปรับตัวเลขเบิกจ่าย แต่เป็นการเสริมความมั่นคงของระบบบริการ ทำให้หน่วยบริการสามารถดูแลผู้ป่วยได้อย่างต่อเนื่อง ลดภาระต้นทุนที่ไม่สอดคล้องกับสถานการณ์จริง และเพิ่มโอกาสให้ผู้ป่วยสิทธิบัตรทองเข้าถึงการรักษาที่ซับซ้อนและมีค่าใช้จ่ายสูงได้อย่างเป็นธรรม

Key Entities

Organization

National Health Security Office (NHSO)(สปสช.)ℹ️

The organization responsible for Thailand's Universal Coverage Scheme (Gold Card).

Thai Organ Transplantation Association(สมาคมปลูกถ่ายอวัยวะแห่งประเทศไทย)

The association that submitted the proposal for adjusting reimbursement rates for organ transplant services.

Person

Ms. Ploytalae Laksameseangchan(นางสาวพลอยทะเล ลักษมีแสงจันทร์)

Deputy Government Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, who announced the NBHC board's decision.

Law

Gold Card 30 Baht Scheme(บัตรทอง 30 บาท)ℹ️

The Thai Universal Coverage Scheme, commonly referred to as the 'Gold Card' program, providing healthcare access.