Clipping Board » Medical Affairs and Administration ─ Medical system, pharmaceuticals, and medical community-related reports
United Daily News 2008/01/17
Reporter Wang Wenling / Taipei Report
The Taipei Central Clinic was fined NT$50,000 by the Health Bureau for charging patients a "physician designation fee." The Central Clinic disagreed with the penalty and filed an appeal and administrative lawsuit. The Taipei High Administrative Court ruled that the Central Clinic had illegally established the fee without prior approval from the competent authority, resulting in a loss for the clinic. Many hospitals charge a "physician designation fee," especially for surgeries or deliveries by designated physicians. This court ruling may impact current doctor-patient relationships. The Taipei Health Bureau informed the court that the issue of the physician designation fee involves medical practices, medical ethics, and doctor-patient relationships. Although the Medical Care Act stipulates that such fees should be approved by municipal or county authorities, the broad implications warrant careful consideration. The judges agreed with the Health Bureau's reasoning.
The Taipei Health Bureau received complaints from patients and, after investigation, the Central Clinic admitted that a patient had visited four times between July and October 2005, with fees ranging from NT$3,500 to NT$13,000 for designated physician services. The Health Bureau noted that when the "Taipei City Western Medical Hospital and Clinic Fee Schedule" was revised in 2005, it specified that the physician designation fee would require approval from the Department of Health, Executive Yuan, before being implemented. The Central Clinic violated the Medical Care Act by charging the fee before approval and was fined the minimum penalty of NT$50,000. The Central Clinic argued that patients had agreed to and signed consent forms for the fee, and refunds were issued upon request, so they should not be penalized. They also claimed that the physician designation fee is not covered by the National Health Insurance and is not an unauthorized charge. The Health Bureau's refusal to include the fee in the standard schedule left them without guidance. The Taipei High Administrative Court ruled that the Central Clinic had unlawfully established the fee, effectively increasing costs for patients, and upheld the Health Bureau's fine.
Central Clinic: Fee is in line with the National Health Insurance Act
[Reporter Hong Jiayu / Taipei Report]
The Taipei Central Clinic stated that, according to Article 39 of the National Health Insurance Act, charging a physician designation fee is legal. The clinic communicates with patients before charging the fee, with amounts varying based on the patient's condition, not exceeding NT$10,000, and receipts are issued. The clinic also noted that they often reduce or waive the fee for financially disadvantaged patients. Gao Weijun, Director of the Medical Care Management Division of the Taipei Health Bureau, stated that charging a physician designation fee is currently illegal in Taipei, hence the NT$50,000 fine for violating the Medical Care Act, and the clinic is required to refund the fees collected from patients.
Source: http://tw. news. yahoo. com/ article/ url/ d/ a/ 080117/ 2/ s00e. html
Hospital Charging Doctor Designation Fees Illegal
Reporter Wang Wenling / Taipei Report
The Taipei Central Clinic was fined NT$50,000 by the Health Bureau for charging patients a "physician designation fee." The Central Clinic disagreed with the penalty and filed an appeal and administrative lawsuit. The Taipei High Administrative Court ruled that the Central Clinic had illegally established the fee without prior approval from the competent authority, resulting in a loss for the clinic. Many hospitals charge a "physician designation fee," especially for surgeries or deliveries by designated physicians. This court ruling may impact current doctor-patient relationships. The Taipei Health Bureau informed the court that the issue of the physician designation fee involves medical practices, medical ethics, and doctor-patient relationships. Although the Medical Care Act stipulates that such fees should be approved by municipal or county authorities, the broad implications warrant careful consideration. The judges agreed with the Health Bureau's reasoning.
The Taipei Health Bureau received complaints from patients and, after investigation, the Central Clinic admitted that a patient had visited four times between July and October 2005, with fees ranging from NT$3,500 to NT$13,000 for designated physician services. The Health Bureau noted that when the "Taipei City Western Medical Hospital and Clinic Fee Schedule" was revised in 2005, it specified that the physician designation fee would require approval from the Department of Health, Executive Yuan, before being implemented. The Central Clinic violated the Medical Care Act by charging the fee before approval and was fined the minimum penalty of NT$50,000. The Central Clinic argued that patients had agreed to and signed consent forms for the fee, and refunds were issued upon request, so they should not be penalized. They also claimed that the physician designation fee is not covered by the National Health Insurance and is not an unauthorized charge. The Health Bureau's refusal to include the fee in the standard schedule left them without guidance. The Taipei High Administrative Court ruled that the Central Clinic had unlawfully established the fee, effectively increasing costs for patients, and upheld the Health Bureau's fine.
Central Clinic: Fee is in line with the National Health Insurance Act
[Reporter Hong Jiayu / Taipei Report]
The Taipei Central Clinic stated that, according to Article 39 of the National Health Insurance Act, charging a physician designation fee is legal. The clinic communicates with patients before charging the fee, with amounts varying based on the patient's condition, not exceeding NT$10,000, and receipts are issued. The clinic also noted that they often reduce or waive the fee for financially disadvantaged patients. Gao Weijun, Director of the Medical Care Management Division of the Taipei Health Bureau, stated that charging a physician designation fee is currently illegal in Taipei, hence the NT$50,000 fine for violating the Medical Care Act, and the clinic is required to refund the fees collected from patients.
Source: http://tw. news. yahoo. com/ article/ url/ d/ a/ 080117/ 2/ s00e. html