China offers fiscal support for treating novel coronavirus-caused pneumonia

BEIJING - Chinese authorities have decided to offer financial support for treating patients with pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

Medical care for such patients must not be compromised due to payment issues, according to a notice released by the Ministry of Finance and the National Healthcare Security Administration.

Financial support will be offered to patients after payments by medical insurance and assistance programs, while those who are treated outside of their place of residence will not be limited by existing reimbursement policies.

Expenses from medicines and medical services needed for treating the pneumonia will be temporarily covered by medical insurance funds.

Medical insurance departments will pay for expenses incurred in the treatment of the disease in advance to lessen financial pressures on hospitals, the notice said.