[Patient-Proposed Health Services]

Area of Science:

• Health Policy
• Medical Economics
• Healthcare System Reform

Context:

• The Patient-Proposed Health Services (PPHS) initiative originated from discussions within the Council for Regulatory Reform under the Second Abe Administration.
• PPHS was formally incorporated into the Japan Revitalization Strategy in 2014, gaining Cabinet endorsement.
• The policy was subsequently legislated into the National Health Insurance Act in 2015, establishing a sustainable medical insurance system.

Purpose:

• To introduce a novel mechanism within Japan's mixed billing system.
• To enable patients to combine treatments covered by public health insurance with those that are not.
• To address the evolving needs of healthcare provision and patient choice.

Summary:

• This paper reviews the historical background and developmental process leading to the establishment of Patient-Proposed Health Services (PPHS).
• It details the proposal, deliberation, and legislative insertion of PPHS into the national health insurance framework.
• The overview covers the policy's genesis from regulatory reform to its implementation in 2016.

Impact:

• PPHS represents a significant policy shift in Japan's healthcare financing, offering greater flexibility.
• It aims to create a more sustainable and responsive medical insurance system.
• The policy facilitates patient access to a broader range of treatments through a mixed-billing approach.