● Part of tourism quality deposit will be refunded
● Medical insurance premiums of employee paid by enterprises will be reduced temporarily
At present, while guaranteeing scientific prevention and control, Deyang Municipal Bureau of Culture, Broadcasting, Television and Tourism and Deyang Municipal Medical Insurance Bureau have actively implemented the decisions and deployment of the CPC Deyang Municipal Party Committee and Deyang Municipal Government. According to the policy requirements of central and provincial governments, as well as the actual situation of the departments and Deyang Municipality, a series of policies and measures to facilitate and benefit the people have been launched to reduce the burden of the enterprises, help them overcome difficulties, and promote resumption of work and production. In response to the hot issues of concern among relevant enterprises and the people, heads of the two bureaus accepted an interview, as shown below.
Q: How do you carry out the work of temporarily refunding part of the tourism quality deposit?
A: The scope and criteria of the refund are: all travel agencies in Deyang that have paid the security deposit and obtained the business license for travel agency can apply for a refund of 80% temporarily. The work began in early February, and the tourism bureau notified all travel agencies in Deyang in writing and by telephone. Moreover, we have formulated the procedures, appointed specific responsible persons and set up record accounts. As of March 2, 28 of the 38 travel agencies in Deyang have applied for refunds, involving a total amount of more than RMB3.4 million.
Q: How do you cash the supporting rewards for the integration and development of Deyang's cultural tourism industry?
A: The tourism bureau has carried out the cashing of the supporting rewards for the integration and development of Deyang's cultural tourism industry in advance. It was originally scheduled to be carried out in the second half of the year. A notification of application was issued on February 8. According to the principle of the administration by local government, the county (city/district) cultural and tourism bureaus will uniformly organize the application at their respective level, and the tourism bureau will organize the application at municipal level. As of February 25, the application materials had been received by and large. The preliminary review was completed on March 5. The materials have been submitted to Deyang Municipal Finance Bureau for secondary review. After the review is completed, the rewards will be cashed in accordance with the procedures.
Q: What is the current situation of the applications in the review?
A: Three changes were found in the preliminary review: the number of projects has increased, the scope expanded, and the amount of rewards raised. Regarding the number of projects, the applications received involve a total of 57 projects of various types, seeing an increase of more than 30 from the first application last year, and 42 projects passed the preliminary review. Regarding the scope of application, it basically covers all aspects of the reward and compensation policies. There are 20 articles of reward and compensation policy, and 16 are involved in the applications. Regarding the amount of rewards, a total of more than RMB2.5 million is involved, rising by RMB1.3 million than last year.
Q: How to help the culture and tourism enterprise make good use of the existing policies?
A: After the outbreak of COVID-19, a series of support policies have been issued by the country, province and city. The tourism bureau printed the Summary of Policies Relevant to Supporting Culture and Tourism Enterprises in Response to COVID-19 and distributed it to the culture and tourism enterprises in Deyang in a timely manner. This summary collects 8 policies issued by national ministries and commissions, 4 by Sichuan Provincial Government and departments directly managed by it, and 2 by Deyang Municipal Government and related departments. The content of the policies involves taxation, finance, power supply, water supply, gas supply, job stabilization, and training of culture and tourism enterprises. In addition, it has been widely publicized through multiple channels. On March 12, the tourism bureau held a briefing on the policies supporting the development of culture and tourism enterprises during the COVID-19 prevention and control in Deyang Municipality, and officials of relevant departments were invited to give explanations and answer questions on the spot.
Q: How do you promote resumption of work and production of culture and tourism enterprises in Deyang in an orderly manner?
A: According to the guiding principles of the Sichuan Province's Guide to Differential Prevention and Control of COVID-19 by Zone and Level (Second Edition) and the current development of COVID-19 in Deyang, in order to minimize the impact on the lives of citizens and vigorously promote the work and production resumption as well as economic development, the tourism bureau will guide all culture and tourism enterprises to resume work in an orderly manner, and strengthen the prevention and control in tourist flow restriction, staff management, disinfection of public facilities, food safety and hygiene, and epidemic prevention publicity.
Q: How do you promote resumption of work and production of culture and tourism projects in an orderly manner?
A: Firstly, we will comply with the unified requirements, adhere to the principles of the administration by local government and industry guidance, and clarify that the resumption of work and production of county (city/district) culture and tourism projects must be approved by local emergency command. On top of that, local culture and tourism departments are required to strengthen project tracking. Secondly, we require all resumed projects to strictly follow the relevant procedures to complete the formalities for resumption. After resumption, project staff are required to disinfect the site, monitor body temperature of workers, and have meals in a scattered manner every day. Special personnel will be assigned to collect the information about project employment to grasp the updates on resumption. So far, 11 culture and tourism projects have been resumed, including the Mianzhu Jiulong Huaxiang Project, Zhongjiang Shilin Valley Scenic Area Project, Guanghan Sanxingdui Cultural Tourism Circle Line Project, and Mianzhu Tianfu Ice and Snow Town Project, where 837 employees returned to work.
Q: How do you streamline approval procedures of cultural administration?
A: Firstly, all the approvals can be handled online and delivered by mail. Secondly, the service staff will contact the relevant person in advance by telephone, WeChat, and QQ. Third, we will promptly publish the website address and telephone number of the contact to the society.
Q: What measures has the medical insurance bureau taken to support the resumption of production and reduce the burden on enterprises?
A: In terms of medical insurance policies, we have implemented the preferential policies of “deferred payment and reduction of medical insurance premiums”.
The first is "deferred payment". Enterprises may apply for deferred payment of medical insurance premiums for employees. Affected by the COVID-19, if an enterprise fails to complete the registration of medical (birth) insurance and payment application on time, it can report to the medical insurance agency of the place where it was insured via the medical insurance APP, WeChat, text message, QQ, telephone, fax, email, etc. to extend the payment period, and complete payment within 3 months after the COVID-19 is resolved.
The second is "reduction". This is to temporarily reduce employee medical insurance premiums paid by enterprises. In a total of 5 months from February to June this year, only half of employee medical insurance premiums paid by enterprises are required, meaning that the premium rate of 3.5% applies. The personal payment rate remains unchanged. It is estimated that with the implementation of this preferential policy, the total expenses of the enterprises (entities) in Deyang on medical insurance payment will be cut by RMB266 million.
Q: Who are the targets for the temporary reduction of basic medical insurance premiums for employees?
A: The scope of this reduction policy covers various types of enterprises, individual businesses participating in social insurance as entities, private non-enterprise entities, and social organizations in Deyang. However, government agencies and institutions, individual businesses participating in social insurance as individuals and flexible employment personnel are not included.
Q: If I have paid the medical insurance premium for February at the reduced rate previously implemented, what can I can?
A: Due to national regulations, this policy and the preferential policy previously implemented cannot be enjoyed in the same period. For those who have paid the premium for February 2020 at a reduced rate, the rate will be restored to 7%, and then halved to 3.5%. The premiums paid by enterprises at the reduced rate of 6% can offset their contributions in the following months.
Q: What will be the influence on employee benefits after enterprises defer or reduce the payment of medical insurance premiums during the COVID-19 outbreak?
A: In this case, the medical insurance benefits of the employees will not be affected during the validity of the policy. Enterprises shall make up for the deferred payment within 3 months after the COVID-19 is resolved, no late fees and interest will be charged, and it will not affect the benefits and personal rights records of the insured employees. The benefits of employees will not be influenced either in the validity of the reduction policy.
Q: In response to COVID-19, what measures has the medical insurance bureau taken to guarantee medical treatment of patients?
A: The first is to guarantee funds for treatment and to settle treatment costs in a timely manner. Among the municipalities and prefectures in Sichuan, Deyang took the lead in fully pre-allocating special treatment funds to the designated medical institutions. The second is to implement special medical reimbursement policies. Special medical insurance policies are implemented to cover the costs of medicines and medical services involved in the treatment of confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients in the designated hospitals, in conjunction with the "full subsidy" fiscal policies to ensure that treatment of patients will not be affected by cost issues. The third is to expand the medical insurance drug list. All the medicines and medical items that are not in the medical insurance drug list but involved in the diagnosis and treatment plan of COVID-19 will be promptly included for reimbursement. The fourth is to implement special insurance policies. For suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients who are not insured, immediate participation applies for reimbursement during the prevention and control of COVID-19. The fifth is to advance medical expenses in full. For COVID-19 patients who seek medical treatment in other provinces, the medical expenses will be fully advanced by the local medical insurance agency in the place where the medical treatment is given to ensure timely treatment.
Q: During the prevention and control of COVID-19, what measures of convenience have you taken for urban and rural residents to pay insurance premiums?
A: Deyang has relaxed the time limit for centralized payment by residents. The deadline has been extended from the original March 31 to May 31. WeChat, Alipay, and counters are all available to facilitate residents to pay premiums in a timely manner.
Q: What measures have you taken to remove the burden of medical expenses on the residents?
A: The first is to increase the reimbursement rate of major illness insurance for urban and rural residents. From this year on, for the scope of RMB10,000 to 20,000 in the reimbursed cost for major illness of urban and rural residents, the reimbursement rate has increased from 55% to 60%. The other scopes are unchanged. For special groups such as those with difficulties, another 5% is provided.
The second is to guarantee the medicine for "two diseases" for urban and rural residents. Expenses for mild hypertension and diabetes outpatient treatment are newly included in the medical insurance coverage, which can be reimbursed under a 70% limit. Reimbursement for hypertension can be up to RMB240 per year, and that for diabetes to RMB360 per year. Reimbursement can be combined for patients suffering both diseases at the same time.
The third is to expand the reimbursement scope of outpatient special diseases and increase the reimbursement amount. The number of outpatient special diseases covered has increased from 48 types (classes) to the current 57 types (classes). The reimbursement rate for Classes B and C diseases has been eliminated, and monthly payment limit has been implemented. Benefits for multiple diseases can be superposed. The monthly payment limit of medical insurance for employees with special diseases such as heart disease, Grades 2 and 3 hypertension and other Class C diseases has increased by RMB40 (from RMB60 to RMB100 per month).
The fourth is to organize the procurement of drugs in large quantity, which has drastically reduced the price of drugs. Deyang's public hospitals will purchase and use a total of 25 drugs in large quantity in a centralized manner, and the average prices have dropped by 59%. The intensity of procurement will be further increased this year, by expanding the range and increasing the quantity.
The fifth is to decrease the personal out-of-pocket payment ratio for separately paid drugs among 61 negotiating drugs of the state. The out-of-pocket ratios of urban employees’ and urban and rural residents' medical insurance have been reduced by 10% and 15%, respectively. Furthermore, the payment threshold for separately paid drugs has been canceled.
Q: In response to the COVID-19, what measures has the medial insurance bureau taken to provide convenient services to the residents?
A: Flexible and convenient services such as "online service", "mail service", "telephone service", "convenience service", and "agent service" are provided. During the prevention and control of COVID-19, "long prescription" management has been implemented for outpatient treatment of special diseases, and the dosage amount of prescription is relaxed from the original one month to three months, reducing the number of patient visits to medical institutions for dispensing. Non-local medical treatment records filing is subject to a “commitment” management approach. Insured personnel can send a commitment letter for non-local medical records filing via WeChat, email, fax, “Sichuan Medical Insurance” APP, etc, and may defer submission of other written materials.
Q: How can the insured entities and insured residents learn the specific measures and procedures of the policy for reduction of medical insurance fees and the facilities and benefits?
A: For regular policy consultation, the insured entities and insured residents can dial 2506800 by phone, or download the "Sichuan Medical Insurance" mobile app (Deyang version), follow the WeChat public account "Deyang Municipal Medical Insurance Bureau" to learn about relevant medical insurance policies and check handling procedures. The municipal medical insurance bureau will handle and respond to the problems, difficulties, needs and suggestions in a timely manner. (Reporter Zhang Wei)
