Adjustments to National Health Insurance's co-payment system will begin in
April at the earliest.

New N-H-I Administration Director-General Shi Chong-liang says today that the
first phase seeks to adjust co-payment for emergency treatment and medicines,
and second phase is for medical exams and treatment.

Shi says there's no timetable for the second phase as it's more complicated
and he'll have to discuss with hospitals and physicians.

Under the new system, there's no co-payment at primary care clinics and
hospitals if the charge for medicine is under 100 NT, and 20-percent if it's
beyond, with a cap of 200 NT.

For regional hospitals and medical centers, the cap is set at 300 NT.

On emergency treatment, Shi says the co-payment for mild cases at regional
hospitals will rise to 600 NT from the current 300, and at medical centers,
to 800 NT from 550.

But the payment is set to be lower if the emergency cases are serious.

The Director-general says some 7 million people will be affected by the new
system.

(JL)