Outpatient policy eyed

SOME 165,000 urban and rural dwellers had been covered by basic medical insurance by March 2008, and coverage rate in some villages exceeded 90 per cent, according to recently released statistics. The coverage rage reached 99 per cent in Denglong Village of Baijiao Town, Doumen District, and in Sanban Village of Hongqi Town, Jinwan District.
Outpatient consultation fees for the insured is an increasing concern though, as the medical insurance system only covers hospitalization and outpatient catastrophic diseases. To solve the problem, a medical insurance unified payment system for average outpatient services will be established. In addition, a domestic sickbed management regulation under the basic medical insurance system will be worked out.