To guarantee the public" + String.fromCharCode(39) + "s medical treatment safety and quality and to correct irregular medical practices, the BNHI implemented 16 indicators for non-reimbursement in 2005. Since the implementation of these indicators an evaluation has shown that a majority of medical institutions have practiced self-discipline and have not exceeded the threshold. Only a minority has exceeded the threshold and have suffered fee deductions. It is clear that the implementation of the non-reimbursement indicators have indeed led to the improvement and correction of inappropriate medical treatment models.

    For this reason the medical community and the BNHI this year have engaged in further cooperative efforts to expand, promote and develop non-reimbursement indicators focusing on bad drugs or drugs of doubtful efficacy and inappropriate medical care utilization and treatment by holding joint meetings to consult on the issue, reaching a consensus on ten additional new non-reimbursement indicators. On August 21 these were presented to the DOH for approval and an official announcement is currently being worked on with an anticipated implementation date of October 1, 2006.

    Among the newly added non-reimbursement indicators is one focusing on frequent extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) where a patient is to undergo treatment six or more times in one year when a hospital has not acted according to disease indications or has not given due consideration to the patient" + String.fromCharCode(39) + "s actual situation. In these circumstances the treatment costs submitted by the hospital are not reimbursed in order to avoid kidney damage to a patient caused by over-usage of the technique and to thus guarantee the public" + String.fromCharCode(39) + "s medical treatment safety. In addition, with regard to bad drugs or drugs of questionable efficacy (those who take the extremist position) like Azulene, Ginkgo or Pipethanate, over-prescribed by a minority of medical institutions, for the first time a threshold had been established to raise the quality level of medication available to the public. Also, thresholds have been set up for antibiotics containing cephalexin or sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, used to treat middle-ear infections that can cause drug resistance as proved by evidence-based medicine publications. In these cases overall reported medication costs are not reimbursed so that the safety of the medication available to the public may be guaranteed. And as for medical institutions that should not be prescribing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like COX II that do not conform to drug NHI reimbursement regulations, requested medication reimbursements will likewise not be made. The medical community and the BNHI hope that through the continued expansion and promotion of non-reimbursement indicators self-discipline in the medical community and an excellent doctor/patient relationship will be encouraged and that the probability of inappropriate medical treatment will be reduced so that when the public visits a physician for surgery, medication or treatment, they will be able to receive the appropriate care and an excellent medical prognosis, thus achieving the goal of guaranteeing the people" + String.fromCharCode(39) + "s health and life safety as well as raising the quality level of health care treatment. The announced BNHI non-reimbursement items are put up on the Bureau" + String.fromCharCode(39) + "s website at / 醫事機構/醫事服務/不予支付指標項下. Those needing the information may consult the site.