On the morning of November 15, the National Assembly Standing Committee reviewed major aspects of the draft law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Health Insurance Law.

Presenting the explanatory and feedback report, Nguyen Thuy Anh, Chairwoman of the National Assembly’s Social Affairs Committee, noted that the major provisions of the draft law had garnered consensus among relevant agencies.

The draft law stipulates that family medicine services and home healthcare services will be eligible for HI coverage, aligning with the provisions of the 2023 Law on Medical Examination and Treatment.

For initial registration and treatment by technical expertise level, the draft law emphasizes the rights of HI cardholders to register for initial healthcare services at primary and basic medical facilities.

The draft outlines principles for allocating HI cards to initial registration facilities and authorizes the Ministers of Health, Public Security, and Defense to issue detailed guidelines for implementation.

The transfer of patients between medical facilities will be based on professional requirements and the capacity of the facilities.

The draft law removes administrative boundaries in healthcare, as directed by the National Assembly Standing Committee, while maintaining the current HI coverage levels.

Chairwoman Nguyen Thuy Anh noted that the draft expands eligibility to include cases such as rare diseases and critical illnesses, allowing patients to access specialized facilities directly.

Officers, professional soldiers, public security personnel, and retirees in similar categories will continue to receive HI coverage for 95% of medical costs, ensuring fairness with other retirees. Those eligible for 100% coverage include active-duty personnel, Vietnamese heroic mothers, and individuals who contributed to the revolution.

Additionally, the draft law includes village health workers and midwives, providing support and equitable policies for healthcare providers in remote areas.

However, the draft does not extend HI to dependents of full-time militia personnel, as the Law on Militia and Self-Defense does not specify HI benefits for this group. The government will be tasked with defining eligibility for other groups.

The draft law is scheduled for finalization and submission for a vote in the National Assembly on the afternoon of November 27.

Tran Thuong