Shanghai official announcement: IVF can be reimbursed by medical insurance
In recent years, the number of infertile people has continued to rise, but the price of assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization, is relatively high, which has brought a considerable burden to this group. The reporter learned from the Shanghai Municipal Medical Insurance Bureau that in order to implement active fertility support measures, the Municipal Medical Insurance Bureau, together with the human resources and social security and health departments, recently issued the "Notice on Including Some Therapeutic Assisted Reproductive Technology Projects into the Payment Scope of Medical Insurance and Work Injury Insurance". From June 1 this year, 12 assisted reproductive medical service items such as "ovum retrieval" will be included in the scope of medical insurance payment.
In the early stage, the Municipal Medical Insurance Bureau standardized Shanghai's current assisted reproductive medical service projects and optimized and integrated them into 17 assisted reproductive medical service projects such as "ovum retrieval". Among them, 12 projects are included in the payment scope of Shanghai’s medical insurance, covering necessary medical assisted reproductive technologies such as egg retrieval, sperm retrieval, artificial insemination, embryo culture, and embryo transplantation.
"Many patients are looking forward to this policy, and there were people coming to my outpatient clinic for consultation in the morning." Zhang Ting, deputy chief physician of the Department of Reproductive Medicine of Renji Hospital, said that the 12 items included in the scope of medical insurance payment this time cover most of the needs for assisted reproduction. Technology will greatly ease the financial burden and psychological pressure on patients and their families. Taking in vitro fertilization as an example, the total cost of first- and second-generation in vitro fertilization is about 40,000 yuan, and the total cost of third-generation in vitro fertilization is about 60,000 yuan. After being reimbursed by medical insurance, at least 60% of the cost can be saved. According to calculations by the Municipal Medical Insurance Bureau, it is expected to reduce the burden of insured persons by approximately 900 million yuan each year.
Sun Yun, deputy director of Renji Hospital and director of the Department of Reproductive Medicine, told reporters that the incidence of infertility in our country has increased year by year, from 2% in the early days of liberation to 18.5% currently. In other words, there are 50 million couples of childbearing age. Facing the problem of infertility. "In Shanghai, one out of eight couples of childbearing age needs assistance with assisted reproductive technology, so the number of people eager to include this technology in medical insurance is huge." She also pointed out that 33.3% of the total global assisted reproductive technology is in Our country has completed this, and Shanghai’s demand for assisted reproductive technology ranks among the top in the country. Most of the patients who come to Shanghai for treatment are the elderly and those in need. With the introduction of this new medical insurance policy, the problem of "cannot afford to have a baby" will be greatly alleviated.
According to the relevant person in charge of the Municipal Medical Insurance Bureau, this policy will be implemented in 17 hospitals in Shanghai that are qualified to carry out assisted reproductive technology and are designated medical insurance institutions. The policy not only benefits Shanghai insured persons, but also brings convenience to insured persons from other places. According to the direct settlement policy for medical treatment in different places across provinces, patients can enjoy the "insurance place policy and medical treatment place directory". In other words, insured persons from other places who come to Shanghai to receive assisted reproductive technology treatment can also be reimbursed according to the 12 medical service items in the Shanghai Medical Insurance Catalog. The specific reimbursement ratio shall refer to the policy of the insured place.
In the next step, Shanghai's medical insurance department will continue to implement national requirements, implement active fertility support policies and measures, improve the establishment of assisted reproductive medical services and medical insurance payment management, and strengthen departmental coordination to promote the matching of basic medical insurance, maternity insurance and related economic and social policies. , jointly promote long-term balanced development of the population.
