Health insurance coverage for healthy lifestyle consultations is to be finalized next month ahead of a planned rollout in August, the National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) said yesterday.
The agency is planning a comprehensive program starting in August to promote healthy living from the community level, expanding healthcare beyond doctors’ visits and prescriptions.
The plan includes once-yearly lifestyle consultations to improve nutrition and exercise habits, targeting the “three highs” of high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol, the agency said.
Photo: Lin Chih-yi, Taipei Times
The NHIA said it is to finalize insurance payment details and provide further information to the public concerning the proposed plan by July 12 ahead of a rollout at regional hospitals from August.
Appearing at a forum on healthy aging yesterday, NHIA Director-General Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said Taiwan is facing an aging population and a declining birthrate.
This increases the number of patients needing care, even while the number of carers decreases, putting an increased strain on NHI services, he said.
The past year has seen the highest recorded number of prescriptions issued, including medication for diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, constipation and sleeping, he said, adding that the “three highs” are the greatest challenge to the nation’s health.
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