Overview

# Outline of the Draft Act on Arrangement of Relevant Acts on Advancement of Comprehensive Measures for Securing Regional Medical and Long-Term Care, etc. (scheduled to be revised in 2014)

As measures based on the Act on Promotion of Reform for the Establishment of a Sustainable Social Security System, an efficient and high-quality medical care system will be established, and necessary improvements, etc. will be made for relevant laws, including the Medical Care Act and the Long-Term Care Insurance Act, etc., to secure regional medical and long-term care in an integrated manner.

## I Outline

1. Creation of new funds and stronger cooperation of medical and long-term care (related to the Act on Promotion of Development of Regional Long-Term Care Facilities, etc.)

[1] Establishment of new funds in prefectures through utilization of the increased consumption tax revenue for medical/long-term care businesses listed in the business plans of prefectures (functional division/cooperation of hospital beds, promotion of in-home medical/long-term care, etc.)

[2] Formulation of basic policies by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare for stronger cooperation of medical and long-term care

### 2. Securing an efficient and effective medical care system in regions (related to the Medical Care Act)

[1] Reporting on medical functions of hospital beds (highly acute phase, acute phase, recovery phase, and chronic phase), etc. to prefectural governors by medical institutions, and formulation of regional medical care vision (appropriate future regional medical care system) based on the reports in medical care plans by prefectures

[2] Legally establishing functions of regional medical support centers that provide support for securing doctors

3. Establishment of integrated community care system and fair balance of cost sharing (related to the Long-Term Care Insurance Act)

[1] Enhancement of community support programs, including promotion of in-home medical/long-term care, etc., with transfer of prevention benefits (home-visit long-term care and day care services) to community support programs to make them more diverse

* Community support programs: Programs implemented by municipalities using the financial resources of long-term care insurance

[2] Focusing the functions of special nursing homes for the elderly on support for persons with medium to severe long-term care needs who have difficulty living at home

[3] Enhancement of reduction of insurance premiums for persons with low-income

[4] Raising the co-payment of users with income above a certain level to 20% (however, the maximum monthly amount of general households will remain unchanged)

[5] Including the assets to the requirements for “supplementary benefits” to compensate for meal and living expenses of facility users with low-income

### 4. Others

[1] Clarification of specific acts of medical care aid and creation of a new training system for nurses that engage in these acts using procedure manuals

[2] Establishment of a system for investigating medical accidents

[3] Merger of medical corporation associations and medical corporation foundations, and measures to promote transfer to medical corporations without contribution

[4] Discussion of measures to secure long-term care personnel (implementation period of the revised qualification system of certified care workers will be postponed from FY2015 to FY2016)

## I I Enforcement Date

The promulgation date. However, measures related to the Long-Term Care Insurance Act will be gradually enforced in October 2014 or later, and those related to the Long-Term Care Insurance Act in April 2015 or later.