BPJS Kesehatan to Cover COVID-19 Treatment Cost: Sri Mulyani

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the government was drafting a Presidential Regulation (Perpres) related to the national health insurance program or BPJS Kesehatan. The new policy would also specifically support efforts in dealing with the coronavirus infection or COVID-19.

"We will immediately draw up a presidential regulation to provide certainty to health facilities such as hospitals, and so BPJS will be able to support COVID-19 measures," said Sri in a video conference on Wednesday, March 18.

Sri considered that the new Perpres was needed given the Supreme Court's ruling that revoked the old Perpres about the program, noting that the applicable premium fees reverted to the previous regulation, namely Perpres No. 82/2018.

A new policy, she explained, will also cover medical costs for patients affected by COVID-19 in hospitals. Although the Ministry of Health had set a budget post, the financing would depend on the number of cases and the case handling. "In this case, BPJS is asked to take part in covering the cost, so that its accountability can be accounted for later."

Previously, the Supreme Court annulled the Presidential Regulation No. 75/2019 on the premium hike of BPJS Kesehatan as it favored and granted some of the judicial reviews proposed by the Indonesian Dialysis Community (KPCDI).

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