*********************************************************
The Department of Health (DH) today (September 29) invited eligible private health care service providers to participate in the Health Care Voucher Scheme (HCVS).
The HCVS will be implemented on a trial basis from 2009 to 2011 to partially subsidise the elderly for using private primary care service, a spokesman for the department said.
Private health care service providers who are interested in the scheme are required to enroll with the DH online or by post from tomorrow (September 30) to the end of the scheme (end 2011), the spokesman said.
Briefing sessions targeted at health care providers have been conducted and invitation letters have been sent to all eligible service providers.
Under the scheme, members of the public aged 70 or above and holding a valid Hong Kong Identity Card or a Valid Certificate of Exemption would be given annually five health care vouchers worth $50 each to partially subsidise primary medical care services they purchase from the private sector.
The vouchers can be used for services provided by Western medical practitioners, registered Chinese medicine practitioners, dentists, chiropractors, registered nurses and enrolled nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, radiographers and medical laboratory technologists.
"The scheme will be operated on an electronic platform (the eHealth System). The elderly do not have to pre-register as the vouchers will be issued and used through this platform.
"The vouchers are valid throughout the three-year period. Unused vouchers may be retained for use in the following year or the last year of the scheme. But no advance of vouchers which are yet to be used will be allowed," the spokesman said.
Participating service providers will receive reimbursement from the Government on a monthly basis. They are required to display the designated logo at their workplaces for identification.
Information on the HCVS is available at the thematic website (www.hcv.gov.hk).
Ends/Monday, September 29, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:07
NNNN
