Guidance on payment rates for Covid-19 rapid tests

The Ministry of Health has issued Official Letter 5378/BYT-KHTC guiding the payment rates for conducting Covid-19 rapid testing. Accordingly, the rate of rapid testing shall comply with the instructions in Section VI of Official Letter 4356/BYT-KH-TC, as follows:

- Before July 1st 2021:

+ Persons who have health insurance cards: pay the price of 238,000 VND as instructed in Official Letter 4068/BYT-KHTC dated July 30th 2020.

+ Those who do not pay health insurance premium: pay the price approved by the competent authority, maximum 238,000 VND, according to Official Letter 5834/BYT-KHTC dated October 27th 2020.

- From July 1st 2021, the payment will be made, specifically:

+ Expenses related to taking samples and returning test results: Consumables, electricity, water, labor, etc. medical facilities shall pay and settle according to current budget allocation for disease prevention control.

+ Expenses for testing: Expenses and payments for each patient according to the actual number of rapid tests used for the patient and the purchase price according to bidding results. Example: A unit has approved quick test bidding result of VND 135,000/test.

If a person with a health insurance card is eligible for health insurance payment and is entitled to 80% of medical examination and treatment costs, the health insurance fund will pay for a quick test of 135,000 VND x 80% = 108,000 VND. The co-payment of VND 27,000 and costs related to taking samples and returning test results are paid by budget allocation fund. More details are on Official Letter 5378/BYT-KHTC dated July 7th 2021.

Reported by T.Phuong - Translated by Ngoc Huynh