Three essential home treatment devices, including pulse oximeters, which had previously posed significant cost burdens, will be newly included in insurance coverage.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) announced that starting May 1, it will expand the scope of medical device benefits for home treatment of severely ill pediatric patients from the current three items — ventilators, oxygen concentrators and cough assist devices — to six.
The newly added items are pulse oximeters, airway suction devices and enteral feeding pumps. Pulse oximeters are used to monitor the condition of patients receiving oxygen therapy or using ventilators, while airway suction devices are used to remove airway secretions from tracheostomy patients. Enteral feeding pumps deliver a steady supply of nutritional fluids to patients who have difficulty eating on their own.
Under the expanded coverage, 90% of the standard cost of these devices will be covered by national health insurance. Patients will pay only 10%, which is expected to ease the financial burden on caregivers providing long-term treatment at home.
The number of eligible recipients is estimated at around 6,000, including patients on ventilators or oxygen therapy, tracheostomy patients and those receiving enteral nutrition. "By expanding support for essential equipment, we aim to improve the continuity of home treatment for severely ill pediatric patients and enhance the in-home care environment," the ministry said.
