我国农村贫困患者可先住院治疗后付费

China's National Health and Family Planning Commission issued a new guideline allowing patients in poor rural areas to receive medical treatment without paying the treatment fees upfront.

根据国家卫计委近日发布的最新方案，农村贫困患者将可享受"先诊疗，后付费"。

Provincial health and family planning administrative departments are required to finish the official plan by the end of March, and the program will be implemented before the end of April.

卫计委要求各省级卫生计生行政部门3月底前完成正式方案，4月底前启动实施该方案。

According to the program's description, only poor, rural patients who have basic medical insurance can take advantage of the favorable policy.

根据方案说明，只有参加基本医保的农村贫困患者可享受这项优惠政策。

Hospitalized patients must meet strict requirements.

住院患者须符合严格的要求。

They have to provide documents including a health insurance card, valid ID card and proof of their economic status before being admitted to any hospital. Patients can receive treatment after signing a "pay after treatment" agreement.

住院前，患者须提供医保卡、有效身份证件和经济状况证明等证件；在签订"先诊疗，后付费"协议后，患者方可接受治疗。

The program also offers flexible payment methods.

方案还提供了灵活的费用结算办法。

When a patient is discharged from the hospital, the designated medical institution immediately subtracts the portion of the treatment fee covered by insurance from the patient's bill.

当患者出院时，定点医疗机构即时从患者治疗费中扣除医保结算覆盖的部分。

For those who cannot pay their treatment fees all at once, there is an option to pay in installments.

无法一次性结清医疗费用的患者可选择分期还款。