The Hospital Authority announced today that the new fee schedule for public services in public hospitals will take effect on January 1 next year, following its publication in the Government Gazette today.

Since the announcement of the “Public Healthcare Fees & Charges Reform” in March, the Health Bureau and the authority have been engaging with the Legislative Council, the public and other stakeholders to explain the reforms and gather feedback.

They have found a consensus that the current public healthcare subsidisation structure cannot cope with increasing service demands driven by demographic changes and healthcare developments. In light of these realities, modifications to patterns of healthcare service utilisation, more precise allocation of medical resources, and reduced wastage and misuse of medical resources are deemed necessary.

Besides restructuring subsidisation levels for various services, the reforms seek to enhance the medical fee waiver mechanism, introduce a cap on annual spending, and strengthen protection for patients with critical illnesses in relation to drugs and medical devices.

As such, public healthcare will be reinforced as a safety net for all, and it is expected that the enhanced medical fee waiving mechanism will expand the number of eligible beneficiaries from 0.3 million to 1.4 million underprivileged individuals, while the annual spending cap will benefit 70,000 patients with serious illnesses.

The Hospital Authority’s next steps are to refine implementation measures to ensure the reforms’ smooth execution. This includes streamlining application procedures for medical fee waivers and relaxing the eligibility criteria under means testing for the Samaritan Fund safety net.

The authority will launch a means test calculator on its website and a mobile application, “HA Go”, on April 28. By inputting information about household income and assets, patients can make a preliminary estimation of their eligibility for medical fee waivers and safety net applications under the new healthcare protection measures.

Additionally, starting from January 1 – when the new Accident & Emergency fee of $400 takes effect – the special A&E refund arrangements will be regularised simultaneously. While waiting for consultation after nurses conduct triage and preliminary medical assessments, patients who choose to seek treatment at other healthcare institutions may apply for a $350 refund.