More Than Y100bn Needed To Curb Medical Costs: Health Ministry (Japan)
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
Japan's ruling coalition is considering such proposals to curb medical costs as freezing a proposed increase in medical costs for the elderly and canceling new expenses to be borne by the disabled. The Health Ministry estimates that such measures would require more than 100 billion yen per year. The coalition may cancel a plan to increase out-of-pocket medical expenses for those aged 70-74 to 20% in April 2008 from the 10% currently required. The ministry estimates that 50 billion yen in new revenue sources would be needed to table the plan and keep the payment requirement at 10%. The legislation would need to be revised during the current extraordinary Diet session in order to freeze payments. Another 40 billion yen could be necessary to put on hold a plan that would require some aged 75 and older to pay medical insurance premiums under a new medical insurance scheme to launch in April. The step would not require a bill to be passed but new ordinances would have to be created. (Click here for more - May Require Paid Subscription