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Medical fee waiver for public healthcare services further enhanced
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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) and the Social Welfare Department (SWD) announced today (July 11) that the medical fee waiver for public healthcare services will be enhanced to cover older Old Age Living Allowance (OALA) recipients with more financial needs with effect from July 15.

     The enhanced medical fee waiver will be extended to cover OALA recipients aged 75 or above with assets not exceeding $144,000 (elderly singletons) or $218,000 (elderly couples). Eligible OALA recipients are not required to make applications separately and will be waived for the standard fees and charges of public healthcare. To tie in with the arrangement, the SWD issued the "Certificate of Old Age Living Allowance Recipients (for Medical Waivers)" yesterday to those OALA recipients who are confirmed as meeting the above requirements. For elderly persons meeting the requirements in future, certificates will also be issued to them to facilitate their being waived.

     Starting from the effective date shown on the Certificate, eligible OALA recipients will be waived for the fees and charges for public healthcare services upon presentation of proof of identity and the Certificate each time they register for consultation. The enhanced waiver will cover fees and charges of inpatient services, accident and emergency services, specialist outpatient clinics, general outpatient clinics, day hospitals, community services and injection and dressing services, and also the standard charge of drugs prescribed during consultation.

     The HA has all along provided medical fee waivers to recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance. Following the fee revision of public healthcare services last month, extending the medical fee waiver mechanism to the older OALA recipients with more financial needs could alleviate the financial burden of medical services for patients and their families.

     Public hospitals have already put up posters to publicise the enhanced medical fee waiver mechanism. Members of the public can enquire for details at the shroff offices, registration counters, medical social services units of public hospitals and clinics, or the Integrated Family Service Centres of the SWD.
 
Ends/Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:47
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