The Jiangsu Provincial Health Insurance Bureau has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative with the launch of the country’s first volume-based procurement of non-invasive prenatal genetic testing services. This move is a significant step in deepening medical and health care reform, improving the quality of medical services, and reducing the burden on patients.
Background
On August 30, the Jiangsu Provincial Health Insurance Bureau officially issued the Notice on the 10th Round of Medical Consumables Volume-Based Procurement (Special Volume-Based Procurement of Non-Invasive Prenatal Genetic Testing Services), inviting eligible enterprises and medical institutions to submit applications through the Jiangsu bidding subsystem from September 6 to September 17. This procurement is aimed at companies with qualifications in non-invasive prenatal genetic testing services and medical institutions within the province with prenatal diagnosis qualifications.
Procurement Details
The procurement focuses on the fetal trisomy syndrome (chromosome 21, 18, 13) high-throughput gene sequencing testing service, commonly known as non-invasive prenatal genetic testing. This service utilizes孕妇外周血胎儿游离 DNA (cell-free fetal DNA in maternal peripheral blood) testing technology to assess the risk of three common chromosomal aneuploidies: trisomy 21, trisomy 18, and trisomy 13. The test results must include the risk of these three diseases.
Innovative Approach
According to the First Financial Report, the director of the Pricing and Tendering Room at the National Medical Insurance Research Institute of Capital Medical University, Jiang Changsong, stated that Jiangsu’s initiative is the first volume-based procurement of medical services focused on material consumption in the country. This marks a pioneering move in the field of medical services procurement.
Pricing and Selection Criteria
The procurement sets a maximum bid price of 375 yuan for effective bids. All enterprises with bids not exceeding 375 yuan will be selected, with no limit on the number of selected enterprises. The top 50% of enterprises will be selected based on their bid prices, with preference given to those with higher testing volumes in Jiangsu in the previous year. For medical institutions, the top 90% will be selected, with similar criteria applied.
Implementation Rules
The procurement rules specify that selected medical institutions must conduct the tests in-house and cannot outsource them. If outsourcing is unavoidable due to special circumstances, the outsourcing cost cannot exceed the winning bid price. Unselected institutions must outsource all tests at a price not exceeding the winning bid price. Selected enterprises can receive samples from all provincial prenatal diagnosis institutions, while selected institutions can receive samples from other prenatal diagnosis institutions, but the total volume cannot exceed twice their reported demand.
Significance and Expectations
The launch of this volume-based procurement is a crucial measure to deepen medical and health care reform, enhance the quality of medical services, and alleviate the financial burden on patients. It is expected that this policy will be smoothly implemented and contribute positively to the development of the medical and health sector in Jiangsu and across the nation.
Conclusion
The initiative by the Jiangsu Provincial Health Insurance Bureau represents a significant advancement in the procurement of medical services in China. By focusing on non-invasive prenatal genetic testing, the province is setting a precedent that could potentially revolutionize the way medical services are procured and delivered, ultimately benefiting both patients and the healthcare system as a whole.
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