别让“阴阳价格”蚕食医保公信力

Core Viewpoint - The National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) has issued a notice to strengthen monitoring and handling of the "dual pricing" issue in retail pharmacies, which harms the interests of insured patients [1][2]. Group 1: Issue of "Dual Pricing" - "Dual pricing" refers to the practice where the same medication is sold at different prices to insured and uninsured individuals, often resulting in higher costs for insured patients [1]. - Some pharmacies justify this practice by citing long reimbursement cycles and financial pressures, leading to a transfer of costs to insured patients [1]. - The existence of "dual pricing" reflects speculative behavior among certain operators, exacerbated by limited information transparency and weak penalties for violations [1]. Group 2: Regulatory Measures - The NHSA aims to shift from passive detection to proactive monitoring using big data, intelligent pricing systems, and anomaly warning models to identify and punish violations promptly [1]. - There is a need for simultaneous optimization of the reimbursement mechanism to alleviate financial burdens on small pharmacies, alongside incentives for compliant pharmacies [2]. - Establishing a reporting reward mechanism and price comparison platforms will empower patients to advocate for their rights and enhance social oversight [2]. Group 3: Public Engagement - The public plays a crucial role as both stakeholders and supervisors in addressing the "dual pricing" issue [2]. - As of now, 29 provinces have launched price comparison mini-programs, allowing citizens to check real-time prices and differences between pharmacies, promoting transparency in healthcare spending [2].