KPK's 6 Recommendations to Prevent Hike in BPJS Kesehatan Premium

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government has recently been in the public spotlight after raising the premium for the Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan). The same policy had been annulled by the Supreme Court earlier.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had also submitted six recommendations to deal with the deficit incurred by the agency in March 2020.

The anti-graft body first suggested the Health Ministry, helmed by Terawan Agus Putranto, expedites the National Medical Practice Guidelines or PNPK program.

“Prioritize the PNPK for risky and high-cost diseases as well as priority programs. Disseminate it in healthcare facilities, medical workers, and educational institutions,” said the KPK deputy chairman for prevention Pahala Nainggolan on Friday, March 13.

The government was also demanded to study the benefit limits for high-cost services, limit budgets for catastrophic disease, and make payments based on the hospitals’ performance.

KPK also urged the government to accelerate the distribution of cost-sharing by issuing technical guidance on cost-sharing with private insurance companies and insurance participants. “For example in South Korea, 20 percent of the cost can be covered by private parties. We think they can cover Rp600-900 billion,” Pahala added.

Participants who are considered wealthy could also be obliged to pay at least 10 percent of the medical cost. According to him, this way could save up to Rp2.2 trillion.

The fifth recommendation, Pahala went on, is that the ministry and regional administrations are urged to evaluate the rules concerning the classification of hospitals and licenses. Moreover, the government urged to crack down fraud practices related to the BPJS Kesehatan claims.

M ROSSENO AJI