[The Epoch Times, May 28, 2022](The Epoch Times reporters Lin Cenxin and Chang Chun interviewed and reported) China’s huge expenditure on the implementation of normalized nucleic acid testing, whether local medical insurance funds are used to pay, has attracted public attention in the past few days. Recently, the National Medical Insurance Administration of the Communist Party of China has issued an order that the cost of normalized nucleic acid testing shall be borne by local governments.
Experts pointed out that the local government used medical insurance because they had no money. Now it is not allowed to use it, and they have to set up a 15-minute nucleic acid detection circle and build a permanent makeshift hospital, which will only make the finances even tighter.
The medical insurance bureau urgently ordered rectification of the nucleic acid account
On the morning of the 28th, many local media in China published “National Medical Insurance Bureau: The cost of normalized nucleic acid testing shall be borne by local governments”. For testing costs, he cited relevant “Opinions” and said that the required costs should be borne by local governments.
The “Opinions” cited by the CCP’s State Council’s Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism in 2020 stated that the cost of “exhaustive inspection” should be borne by local governments, and the cost of “willingness to inspect and inspect” should be borne by enterprises, institutions or individuals. bear.
The official so-called “online public opinion is very concerned” refers to the article “Measurement of Nucleic Acid Ledger” published by Zhang Yu, chief macro analyst of Huachuang Securities Research Institute, which was widely circulated on the Internet a few days ago. The article said, “A forgotten but crucial premise for calculation is that about 80% of the normalized nucleic acid cost is borne by medical insurance, and finance at all levels only needs to pay about 20%. And the national medical insurance still has 3.6 trillion ‘surplus grain’, It is enough for the whole people to test every two days for three and a half years.”
After the publication of this article, it caused a public reaction, questioning whether the normalized nucleic acid testing currently being implemented in many places is covered by medical insurance.
On the 25th, China Business News reported that medical insurance departments in many places in China have recently received a letter copied from the National Medical Insurance Bureau, clearly stating that the use of medical insurance funds to pay for nucleic acid testing for large-scale populations does not comply with the current medical insurance policies. rectification.
The Health Insurance Bureau expressly prohibits the description of local misappropriation of medical insurance
Mr. Liu, a mainlander who is concerned about medical insurance, told The Epoch Times on the 26th that many people are concerned about whether the nucleic acid test fee comes from the medical insurance fund, “Since the country has clearly prohibited the use of medical insurance for large-scale nucleic acid testing, it shows that during the past period, there are indeed some places. Such a phenomenon will be banned by the state.”
Zheng Xuguang, an economist based in the United States, told The Epoch Times on the 26th that although nucleic acid testing is not as “every two-day test for all people” as Huachuang Securities analysts said, such a protracted measure will indeed be a huge expense.
He said that nucleic acid testing is not medical treatment, and medical insurance should not be used for expenses, but judging from the letter from the Medical Insurance Bureau requesting rectification, it is likely that medical insurance has been used in most places. It is not small, the local government really did not have this preparation, and now it is financially difficult.”
“Zhuang Shilihe”, a doctor who has been concerned about medical topics for a long time, said on Weibo that the normalized nucleic acid testing currently carried out in some places is not based on medical insurance payment and does not meet the current regulations. Medical insurance needs to consider the interests of all insured persons. Local medical insurance departments do not have the power to expand the scope of use of medical insurance funds. On the one hand, the increase in expenses will affect the reimbursement of other diseases.
Mr. Sun, an industry insider familiar with insurance, told The Epoch Times on the 26th that misappropriation of medical insurance funds will inevitably lead to a decline in the quality of people’s medical care. If the medical insurance account is depleted and the medical insurance payment part of the medicine cannot be paid, the medicines that were originally eligible for medical insurance reimbursement will no longer be included in the scope of payment, and the public will be forced to switch to cheaper medicines when it comes to dispensing medicines.
Mr. Yao, a Shanghai resident, told NTDTV on the 27th that he is a disabled person with cerebral infarction and hemiplegia and needs to take medicine for a long time. “It costs two or three hundred yuan to dispense a medicine, and now the medical insurance is not reimbursed. I estimate that the money is spent on nucleic acids. Now there is no money to buy medicine and food, and I have lost confidence in the government.”
Hangzhou announced to change from 1 inspection in 2 days to 1 inspection in 3 days
Hangzhou was one of the first cities to announce “normalized nucleic acid testing”. At the end of April this year, all citizens were required to complete a nucleic acid test every 48 hours, otherwise the health code would pop up to remind them that they would not be able to enter public places and take public transportation.
On May 26, Hangzhou decided to reduce the frequency of normalized nucleic acid testing, from 2-day inspection to 3-day inspection.
According to CBN calculations, Hangzhou has a permanent population of 12.204 million by the end of 2021, with a general public budget revenue of 238.66 billion yuan. If nucleic acid testing is conducted every 2 days, the cost of each mixed tube is 5 yuan, and the annual testing cost is 11.136 billion yuan, accounting for nearly 5% of local fiscal revenue. It is worth noting that in 2021, Hangzhou’s general public budget expenditure is 239.26 billion yuan, which has exceeded the budget revenue.
At present, Beijing, Shanghai, Shandong, Shanxi, Jiangxi, and Hubei have all carried out normalized nucleic acid testing in the whole province (city).
Zheng Xuguang analyzed that the authorities are now clearly ordering large-scale nucleic acid testing to be paid by local finance. In theory, the common people are also paying the bill, because the fiscal revenue also comes from taxation, and this “anti-epidemic” expenditure will become more and more huge.
“It is absurd to build not only a 15-minute testing point in a tens of millions of cities, but also a permanent makeshift hospital. The CCP is politically in command, and the Health and Health Commission is the leader. Opening up the import of Pfizer’s vaccine can solve the problem. , it is not open, allowing the common people to keep doing nucleic acid testing, providing a monopoly business for the black industry chain, and providing corrupt officials with opportunities for corruption.” He said.
Current affairs commentator Wang He believes, “If there is no money in finance, no money in medical insurance, and the authorities have to carry out normalized testing, all localities will have to force companies and ordinary people to pay for themselves. The authorities have also laid the groundwork for the policy, that is, it can be reduced. The scope of ‘should be checked and checked’, and the scope of ‘willing to check and check’ is expanded, the responsibility is passed on, and the common people’s leeks are cut.”
Netizens heated discussion: the next day is going to be tight
The topic of “normalized nucleic acid testing costs are borne by local governments” has sparked public complaints on the Internet. A netizen in Ningxia said, “Shenzhen, Guangdong, Shanghai, and Fujian, the local finances can pay, and there is a surplus every year. How can we support a place where we are at the bottom of the country and rely on the central government’s relief for the accumulated deficit every year?”
A Zhejiang netizen said, “There is a balance every year under normal economic activities. Do you think there will be a balance this year?”
Others criticized, “Large companies have started laying off staff and reducing wages, real estate is half-dead, the Internet is severely suppressed, and civil servants in small places can’t pay wages. Where does the money come from? Increase taxes? Or should companies and individuals bear the burden?”
A member of the medical community said, “Yesterday, the hospital held a meeting, and the slogan was to tighten the belt and live a tight life.”
Responsible editor: Li Qiong