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FAQs by VSS Doctors: Reimbursement

FAQs by VSS Doctors: Reimbursement
2023-11-22
  1. What information do the enrolled doctors have to check for each person receiving subsidised vaccination?
  2. Children under 9 years old who have never received any seasonal influenza vaccine are recommended to be given 2 doses of seasonal influenza vaccine. How many Consent form(s) should enrolled doctors collect for each child receiving subsidised vaccination?
  3. How much is the VSS subsidy?
  4. Can I start giving subsidised vaccination service after I have submitted an enrolment application for VSS?
  5. How to ensure timely reimbursement of the claim?
  6. How do I know the claim is reimbursed?
  7. Can an enrolled doctor request for payment in cash or in cheque?
  8. When will the Government pay the enrolled doctor or the medical organisation?
  9. Will the Department of Health (DH) perform routine checking?
  10. How do I know DH performs the post-payment checking?

1. What information do the enrolled doctors have to check for each person receiving subsidised vaccination?

The enrolled doctors have to check the following documentation of the person:

  • Hong Kong resident identity document of the person, e.g. Hong Kong Birth Certificate or the Hong Kong Identity Card to confirm that his / her eligible for subsidy.
  • Counter-check the “Consent to Use Vaccination Subsidy” form to ensure it is legibly and accurately completed and signed by the person or his/her parent/guardian.
  • Check the person’s vaccination record in eHealth System (Subsidies) beforehand. If the person has already used up his/her entitled subsidy, the vaccination subsidy will not be reimbursed.
  • If the person is a pregnant woman, the enrolled doctors have to sign and confirm her pregnant status at the "Consent to Use Vaccination Subsidy" form.
  • If the child is aged 12 years or above, the enrolled doctors have to check the child's Student Handbook / Student Card and keep a copy.
  • If the person is a person with intellectual disability, check his / her Registration Card for People with Disabilities (with indication of intellectual disability or mentally handicap) issued by the Labour and Welfare Bureau (Central Registry for Rehabilitation) or a certificate certifying the person is a PID or eligible for VSS issued by a registered doctor or the person in-charge from the designated institutions serving the PID. And keep a copy.
  • For persons receiving Disability Allowance, check the letter issued by the Social Welfare Department informing their successful application of Disability Allowance and keep a copy.
  • For persons receiving standard rate of “100% disabled” or “requiring constant attendance” under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme, check the “Certificate of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Recipients (for Medical Waivers)” which was issued before 15 December 2018, or Annex page of valid “Notification of Successful Application” / “Notification of Revision of Assistance” issued by the Social Welfare Department to proof his / her eligibility for CSSA and keep a copy. The person or the parent / guardian is required to sign a self-declaration form provided by the doctor enrolled in the VSS to declare his / her eligibility status as in receipt of standard rate of payment as being certified of 100% disabled or requiring constant attendance under the CSSA scheme.
  • If an eligible elderly with high-risk conditions receives 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) or 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV15), the enrolled doctors have to sign and confirm his/her high-risk conditions at the "Consent to Use Vaccination Subsidy" form.

 

2. Children under 9 years old who have never received any seasonal influenza vaccine are recommended to be given 2 doses of seasonal influenza vaccine. How many Consent form(s) should enrolled doctors collect for each child receiving subsidised vaccination?

The doctor has to collect one completed and signed “Consent to Use Vaccination Subsidy” form for each vaccination given (i.e., two consent forms are needed for two vaccinations given to the same child). The consent form can be printed out through eHealth System (Subsidies) after input of the child’s information.

 

3. How much is the VSS subsidy?

The subsidy is $260 for each dose of seasonal influenza vaccine. A maximum of two doses will be subsidised for children aged under 9 years who have never received influenza vaccine before.  Persons aged 9 years or above; or children who have received one or more doses of influenza vaccines in previous seasons will be entitled to have subsidy for only one dose in 2023/24.

The subsidy for pneumococcal vaccinations for elderly aged 65 years or above is as follows:

  • Those without high-risk conditions and have not received pneumococcal vaccination before, can receive subsidy for one dose of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (23vPPV);
  • Those with high-risk conditions and have not received pneumococcal vaccination before, can receive subsidy for one dose of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) or 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV15) and subsidy for one dose of 23vPPV one year after;
  • Those with high-risk conditions and have received 23vPPV before, can receive subsidy for one dose of PCV13/PCV15 one year after the previous dose of 23vPPV;
  • Those with high-risk conditions and have received PCV13/PCV15 before, can receive subsidy for one dose of 23vPPV one year after the previous dose of PCV13/PCV15.
The subsidy level for 23vPPV is HK$400 per dose, the subsidy level for PCV13 is HK$800 per dose, and the subsidy level for PCV15 is HK$800 per dose.

* High-risk conditions include:

  • History of invasive pneumococcal disease, cerebrospinal fluid leakage or cochlear implant;
  • Chronic cardiovascular (except hypertension without complications), lung, liver or kidney diseases;
  • Metabolic diseases including diabetes mellitus or obesity (Body Mass Index 30 or above);
  • Immunocompromised states related to weakened immune system due to conditions such as asplenia, Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or cancer/steroid treatment; and
  • Chronic neurological conditions that can compromise respiratory functions or the handling of respiratory secretions, or increase the risk of aspiration, or those who lack the ability to take care of themselves. 

4. Can I start giving subsidised vaccination service after I have submitted an enrolment application for VSS?

No. A doctor may start giving subsidised vaccinations only after he/she receives confirmation of enrolment from Vaccination Office, which may take up to 14 working days after Vaccination Office receives the enrolment application. Those doctors who do not have an eHealth (Subsidies) Service Provider Account will also have to activate the account first.

5. How to ensure timely reimbursement of the claim?

In order to ensure processing of claim reimbursement in time:

  • Please input claim in eHealth System (Subsidies) WITHIN SEVEN CALENDAR DAYS after the delivery of vaccination service (preferably immediately after vaccination);
  • Claim should be made only after vaccination is provided; and
  • For vaccination service in clinic setting or in non-clinic setting, keep proper vaccination record for claims to be submitted for reimbursement.

6. How do I know the claim is reimbursed?

Claims will be checked by the Vaccination Office and a monthly statement will be sent to doctor through the eHealth System (Subsidies).

7. Can an enrolled doctor request for payment in cash or in cheque?

No. The Department of Health only supports direct payment to the enrolled doctor’s nominated bank account, which must be in the name of the doctor or the medical organisation.

 

8. When will the Government pay the enrolled doctor or the medical organisation?

Reimbursement of the claims would be performed on a monthly basis. At the end of the month, the eHealth System (Subsidies) will generate payment files based on the transaction claims logged by the eHealth System (Subsidies) for processing reimbursement. Reimbursement will be paid directly into the accounts designated by the providers.

9. Will the Department of Health (DH) perform routine checking?

Yes. To ensure that public funds are properly used, the DH will perform routine post-payment checking. DH staff will collect and screen the “Consent to Use Vaccination Subsidy” forms kept at the clinics (to be kept at least 7 years), and other clinic records if necessary. DH staff may call the recipients / parents / guardians to enquire about the information related to the VSS.

10. How do I know DH performs the post-payment checking?

DH will make an appointment with the enrolled doctor via phone then fax a confirmation letter to them. The DH staff will show their staff identity proof when attending to the clinic. Doctors can also call VSS Doctors' Line 2125 2299 for verifying purpose.