| Background of Elderly Health Care Voucher Pilot Scheme |
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As announced by the Chief Executive in the 2007-08 Policy Address, the Government will launch the Elderly Health Care Voucher Pilot Scheme (HCVS) in the 2008-09 financial year for three years to provide five health care vouchers of $50 each to elders aged 70 or above annually to partially subsidise their use of private primary healthcare (PHC) services.
The Elderly Health Care Voucher Pilot Scheme aims at providing additional choices for elders on top of the existing public PHC services with a view to enhancing the PHC services for the elders. The Elderly Health Care Voucher Pilot Scheme would implement the "money follows patient" concept on a trial basis, enabling elders to choose their own private PHC services in their local communities that suit their needs most, thereby piloting a new model for subsidised PHC services in the future. By providing partial subsidy, the Elderly Health Care Voucher Pilot Scheme serves to promote the concept of shared responsibility for healthcare among patients and ensure appropriate use of healthcare services through co-payment. The existing public healthcare services available to the elders will not be reduced as a result of the introduction of the Elderly Health Care Voucher Pilot Scheme. Elders may still access public healthcare services as necessary. However, the Government expects that with the implementation of the Elderly Health Care Voucher Pilot Scheme, some elders will choose their own private PHC services close to their homes. As a result, they can have better access to care and a continuity of care from their chosen providers, thus reducing their reliance on public healthcare services and other members of the public who are in need of public PHC services will be benefited indirectly. The Government expects to implement the Elderly Health Care Voucher Pilot Scheme for three years, starting from January 2009 to December 2011. |