Cap on optometry claims proposed

March 11, 2019

Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan:

The decision to have the subsidy eligible for the Hong Kong elders for the Elderly Health Care Voucher amount of $2,000 for two years in terms of the optometry services, was because that we have actually, in the review by the Department of Health, (we) have noticed the abnormal high amount of usage of this service both in terms of the claim, per claim, in terms of the money and also the total expenses in terms of using this service. 

So in the context of hoping the elderly can (make) better use of their Elderly Health Care Vouchers and not concentrating or over concentrating on one particular service, I think it is appropriate for the Government to look into the situation and that’s why we have suggested this cap. 

We have also looked into some of the statistics in terms of why two years, why $2,000, so we have actually looked into how the elders have used the optometry services in the past and so therefore we felt this is an appropriate measure. 

Of course, we will continue to monitor the situation to see after this suggested measure whether there is any change or any improvement and so on. At the same time, we will also strengthen our public education to the elders, so the Department of Health will actually have their elderly service outreach team do more education for the elderly as to how they can (make) better use of the Elderly Health Care Vouchers so that they can actually look into their own situation or health situation as to how best to spend the money given to them in the Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme.

The Government has proposed to cap the maximum usage of Elderly Health Care Vouchers on optometry services at $2,000 for every two years.

Holding press conference today, Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan said the decision was made after a review on the Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme.

“In the review by the Department of Health, we have noticed the abnormal high amount of usage of this service both in terms of the claim, per claim, in terms of the money and also the total expenses in terms of using this service.”

According to the review, there were almost 700 optometrists enrolled in the scheme last year and they claimed $760 million, accounting for 27% of the total voucher amount claimed by all types of healthcare professionals.

The median voucher amount per claim by optometrists last year was $1,951, while each eligible senior was given an annual voucher amount of $2,000.

“In the context of hoping the elderly can make better use of their Elderly Health Care Vouchers and not concentrating or over concentrating on one particular service, I think it is appropriate for the Government to look into the situation and that’s why we have suggested this cap.”

Prof Chan added the Government will monitor the situation after the suggested measure has launched.

“The Department of Health will actually have their elderly service outreach team do more education for the elderly as to how they can make better use of the Elderly Health Care Vouchers so that they can actually look into their own situation or health situation.”

The Government also proposed to regularise the scheme at the University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, enabling the elderly to keep using vouchers there.