Designated Team to handle medical fee waiver applications

While implementing the reform, the HA has also expanded the medical fee waiver mechanism and the Samaritan Fund safety net, as well as introduced spending cap on inpatient and outpatient services. The enhanced medical fee waiver mechanism is expected to benefit 1.4 million eligible persons. The HA has also arranged interim measures to grant a three-month conditional waiver for those patients with financial difficulties applied for waiver and with urgent medical needs or receiving treatment on the day of application but not able to complete the financial assessment with insufficient documents. Patients have to submit all the required documents to the Designated Team for financial assessment within the three-month conditional waiver period. All clusters have established Designated Team comprising medical social workers and executive officers and others to handle medical fee waiver applications due to financial grounds, while medical social workers handle those related to non-financial grounds.

Edith Yim, Coordinator of Medical Social Service of Hong Kong East Cluster, states: "Our Designated Team was successfully established within just a few months and started service operation in November. Throughout the preparation process, we received support and cooperation from the senior management and colleagues across various departments. Every step embodied the team's hard work and synergy, deeply reflecting the collaborative spirit of unity is strength." To ensure smooth operation, the team actively maintained close communication with various stakeholders, including different hospital departments, the Social Welfare Department, and non-profit organisations. The team also participated in various hospital meetings and working groups, visited relevant departments, and arranged briefings to help hospital staff and community partners understand the enhanced medical fee waiver mechanism, thereby guiding patients in need.