On September 6th, AmCham China hosted the Healthcare Forum, a platform dedicated to fostering collaboration and exchange between the United States and China in the field of healthcare. The forum was titled “Reform and Innovation in Medical Insurance Payment for Three Medical Linkages.”
AmCham China President Michael Hart opened the forum by extending a warm welcome to all the participants. In his remarks, he expressed his best wishes for the forum and emphasized its significance in shaping the future of US-China healthcare collaboration.
Wang Jianghong, Secretary at the Health Human Resources Development Center and National Health Commission highlighted the growing medical exchanges between China and the United States since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1979. More than 100 institutions in China and 200 in the United States have engaged in productive exchanges. This evolving collaboration extends to medical education, institutions, and beyond, with the Chamber playing a vital role in supporting and facilitating these endeavors.
Keynote Speeches
Ying Yazhen, Vice President of the National Medical Insurance Research Institute, delved into the importance of deepening the reform of medical insurance payment methods to promote the high-quality development of public hospitals. She outlined the alignment of the new medical insurance payment mechanism with the goals of enhancing public hospital quality. Additionally, Ying addressed the challenges encountered during these reforms, including issues with DIP payment methods and the associated technical framework.
Gu Xuefei, Director of the Medical Insurance Research Department at the Health Development Research Center, National Health Commission, provided a comprehensive overview of China’s current medical payment mechanism and the integration of new technologies. He highlighted key points from the “14th Five-Year Plan for National Medical Insurance” and emphasized the need to address the declining number of insured persons, covering only 50% of the population. Gu also drew comparisons between DIP and DRG, emphasizing the importance of their implementation and the exploration of different medical payment systems through case studies.
Jiao Weiping, Director of the Medical Insurance Management Office of Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, examined the impact of medical insurance reform on the cost structure and economic operation of public hospitals. Jiao outlined the structure of public hospital revenue, medical revenue composition, and the crucial role of medical insurance policies in the economic operation of hospitals. He also addressed the changes in outpatient services, cost control measures, and the impact of DRG on hospital operations. Jiao pointed out key challenges, including the need for cost structure adjustments and improved cross-department cooperation.
Jiang Bin, Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Management and Clinical Pharmacy at Peking University’s School of Pharmacy, discussed the progress and trends in drug consumption with quantity procurement. She highlighted the innovative mechanism and positioning of volume purchase and emphasized the importance of multiparty collaboration and effective implementation.
In addition to the forum sessions, a closed-door meeting was held between AmCham China and the Health Human Resources Development Center and National Health Commission. During this meeting, both parties reviewed their history of cooperation and explored future opportunities. Representatives from AmCham China member companies also actively participated, sharing valuable insights.