The Social Security Office (SSO) has instructed hospitals contracted to provide health care for subscribers insured under the Social Security Act to follow the government's outpatient scheme for Covid-19 patients which took effect on March 1.
SSO secretary-general Boonsong Thapchaiyuth said yesterday that he has issued an announcement on a set of criteria and rates for medical care for Covid-19 patients in line with the government's newly launched Outpatient under Self-Isolation scheme to hospitals contracted with the SSO.
Under the announcement, the hospitals have been asked to provide health care for subscribers who have mild or no symptoms of Covid-19 in line with the outpatient service scheme.
The SSO will reimburse the hospitals for their medical care expenses at a flat rate of 1,000 baht per patient, he said.
The rate covers fees for medical advice on home isolation, medication prescribed and delivery fees, the coordination and monitoring of patients during the first 48 hours, and referral of patients to hospitals when essential medical care is required, the announcement says.
If patients still need advice or initial care after 48 hours, the hospitals will be reimbursed at a flat rate of 300 baht per patient.
The hospitals can seek reimbursement from the SSO retroactively from March 1, Mr Boonsong said.
Under the outpatient scheme, people who test positive but show only mild or no symptoms can receive Favipiravir, or fah talai jone, and other medications if doctors consider them necessary.
They can also seek assistance at hospitals where their health insurance or public welfare was registered.
For those infected who have underlying health issues, self-isolating at home with the aid of telemedicine or receiving care at community isolation facilities is recommended, along with hospitels (hotel-cum-hospital).
Those with severe symptoms will be looked after at hospitals.
The outpatient service is part of the Public Health Ministry's plan to downgrade Covid-19 to an endemic disease that can be treated with self-care. It is also intended to ease pressure on the health system by saving beds for patients with severe symptoms in need of intensive care.