BANGKOK, March 16 (TNA) – The Public Health Ministry started its UCEP (Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients) Plus scheme to pay for COVID-19 treatment for yellow and red-coded patients at all public and private hospitals while green-coded ones must depend on their normal health welfare.
Under UCEP Plus, green-coded COVID-19 patients cannot seek free treatment at any hospital but must do it at hospitals contracted under their individual welfare schemes – universal healthcare and social security schemes. Free treatment at any hospitals is available only for yellow and red-coded patients.
COVID-19 patients can first call 1669 to report their symptoms and officials will input their information to the Emergency Pre-Authorization program of the National Institute for Emergency Medicine (NIEM). If they meet UCEP Plus criteria, they can immediately exercise UCEP Plus rights.
NIEM offers advice on the matter via the phone number 02-872-1669. Staff of about 300 private hospitals can also call the number if they have problems while using the program to input information. (TNA)
