APEC Checklist of Enablers for Alternative Health Financing

1. Political will and government coordination: Make improving health outcomes a priority

Healthcare should be seen as a long term investment with returns collected in the form of longer healthier lives, a more productive workforce, and the development of a valuable sector for jobs and growth. To ensure this happens, political will must be established that prioritizes healthcare at the same level as other investments of public funds. Political will and government coordination are necessary to realign budgetary priorities, target burdensome regulations, coordinate with the private sector, and remove redundancies, among other issues.

Enabler

Comment

• Clear direction from senior leadership to prioritize investments in health as both a prerequisite for long term economic growth and as an independent contributor to the economy

• High-level recognition that health is considered as a public investment with a measurable return (such as with infrastructure or education) as opposed to a cost

Key Questions / Performance Indicators

Comment

• What is the % GDP public investment in healthcare?

• What is the share of government health spending as a percentage of total government spending?

• Where does health rank in terms of priorities for investment of public funds (as compared to % GDP expenditure in other areas)?

• Is there a whole of government approach to health? Which ministries/departments/agencies are involved in developing and implementing healthcare policies? Which policies define and govern relationships between agencies and fund flows?

• Are innovative tax structures currently in place or being developed, that specifically fund healthcare?

• Does the government (economy-wide, regional, or local) have input in setting health sector priorities?

• Are the government (economy-wide, regional, or local) coordinated on healthcare spending and engagement with private sector stakeholders?^[1]

2. Good Governance: Maximizing efficiency in public healthcare investment

Maximizing public healthcare investment is dependent on good governance practices that drive efficiency and eliminate waste. Essential to funding healthcare on an economy-wide level is growing revenue through a strong tax system, crafting a budget that can be executed, and cutting through unnecessary and redundant processes. Alternative financing mechanisms work best in a complementary environment to traditional financing mechanisms making good governance an essential component of an enabling environment.

Enabler

Comment

• Robust formal work force with a system of efficient taxation and/or method for indirect taxation of the informal sector

• Ability to collect taxes at point-of-sale and earmark for health purposes

• Adequate taxation enforcement abilities

• Reduced administrative burden and bureaucracy

• Budget flexibility in line items that allows for timely disbursement of funds for additional health related needs

• Secure and efficient supply chains that are protected from fraud and abuse

• Streamlined and efficient health system procurement, purchasing, distribution, accounting, monitoring and service delivery systems

Key Questions / Performance Indicators

Comment

• Are policies and enforcement mechanisms currently in place that maximize revenue directed to the health sector?

• Are anti-corruption policies and enforcement mechanisms in place?

• What are the health budget execution rates? For example, what is the % of government health funding that reaches services delivery?

• What is the share of public spending on health that goes to the low income segment of the population?

• Do metrics exist that measure waste, administrative costs, supplier inefficiencies, and the incidence of fraud and abuse?

• Is there any performance assessment system for public investment?

• Is public investment allocated based on performance assessment?

• Is there a strategic plan for the health sector which is aligned with the distribution of the burden of disease?

• For development assistance eligible economies, are there adequate donor coordination mechanisms to align external financing with government priorities, processes, and the health budget?

• Are there public procurement policies, regulations that are context-specific, fit for purpose, transparency and value for money for buying medicines, medical equipments and supplies?

3.Private Sector Engagement: Promote private sector engagement in developing healthcare solutions

The private sector should be treated as a key partner for access to financing and for improving access to high quality, innovative health care products, facilities, and services. Collaboration with private players through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) can be a key tool for governments. To succeed, PPPs need transparent, stable contracts with clear expectations and guidelines. Governments should review regulatory measures to ensure that there are no unintended consequences of regulation and that they are not overly burdensome. Options that include private players help grow coverage and ease pressure on public financing.

Enabler

Comment

• Openness from government to working with the private sector

• Ability to enforce PPP regulations at the economy-wide and local levels

• Regular, consistent contact between government and private sector to ensure smooth day-to-day operations

• Mutually agreed performance metrics that ensure PPP project quality and protect both the public and private interests

• Facilitation of private sector investments in healthcare infrastructure and delivery

Key Questions / Performance Indicators

Comment

• Are there existing public private partnerships in the healthcare sector?

• What aspects of the healthcare system is the private sector involved in?

• Are privately funded healthcare facilities and services viewed as supplementing/complementing the public health sector or as competition?

• Does your government contract with private sector healthcare facilities and/or healthcare service providers?

• Do policies exist that prevent or stipulate how private companies may contribute to health financing, service delivery, or healthcare infrastructure?

• What is the availability of supplementary health insurance options beyond basic coverage?

• Has government worked with the private sector health insurers to identify market segments that should be in full or in part covered by the private sector?

• Do tax incentives, or other incentives, exist to promote private financing mechanisms in the health sector?

4. Legal and Regulatory Frameworks: Adopt clear, non-discriminatory, consistent, yet flexible legal and regulatory frameworks

Private sector participation in the health insurance market can significantly ease the burden on public financing of health. To generate investor interest and provide a stable environment for market entry, potential investors need clear, consistent, yet flexible regulatory frameworks. Regulatory processes should be designed with inputs from all stakeholders and be enforceable. While serving the intended purpose, regulation should also aim to reduce burdens on both foreign and local private participation in markets.

Enabler

Comment

• Consistent, transparent, and non-discriminatory enforcement of rules, regulations, and contracts for all private and public entities

• Transparent, efficient, and non-discriminatory processes for issuing insurance product approvals, permits, and licensing

• Contract agreements that are protected from arbitrary or discriminatory changes in law

• Independent dispute resolution for private sector engagements

• Ability for private stakeholders to establish in foreign markets

Key Questions / Performance Indicators

Comment

• Does economy-wide and/or local-level legislation exist that clearly identifies the terms of private sector engagement in PPPs in the healthcare sector?^[v]

• Are PPPs in the healthcare sector regulated by a single governing authority?

• Are there measures in place to protect commercially sensitive information during the formation and operation of public – private contracts?

• Are there measures in place to protect individually sensitive client / patient information within public – private contracts?

• Are there protections in place to reduce risk in private-public contracts due to political change and/or unintended consequences of changes in law?

• Are patient populations, civil society, and industry included in the government’s rule making process?

• Is there an adequate comment period in the government’s rule making process that is consistent with international best practice?

• Is there a public posting of draft rules (e.g. official register, notice of proposed rule-making, e-Government public portal)?

• Is guidance provided online (e.g. through a government portal) by the appropriate department or agency on how to comply with new policy or regulation?

• In the drafting of new regulations, is consideration given to regulatory alignment with other economies?

• Are the regulatory authority’s disclosure policies consistent with domestic laws on access to information?

• Are regulatory impact analyses conducted with the inclusion of health outcomes on economic development?

• Are enforcement authorities established and is there capacity for consistent enforcement of the regulations?

• Can private international firms invest in and own healthcare facilities?

Health Insurance Sector

• Are there differences in geographic limitations on where foreign companies versus domestic companies may establish?

• Are clear deadlines and criteria established for health insurance product approvals?

• Are multiple health insurance options available? (public, private, blended and stacked funding plans, as well as riders)

• Are there limitations on types of assets in which the health insurer can invest?

• Are there limitations on the location of assets in which the health insurer is allowed to invest (i.e., limiting to domestic bonds as opposed to overseas investments)

• Are there solvency and capital reserve requirements? Do these differ between domestic and foreign firms?

• Are there stock listing or delisting requirements that vary between domestic and foreign firms?

• Are there citizenship requirements for key corporate personnel or boards of directors?

• Are there restrictions on employment practices (i.e., who can work as agents)?

• Do limitations exist on brokerage/agency services as opposed to individual insurance companies that sell one brand of insurance?

• Do limitations exist on reinsurance (i.e., requirement to purchase some or all of reinsurance from local companies)?

• Does a foreign equity cap exist on establishing a new health insurance business?

• Do limitations exist on the form of establishment (i.e., not allowing branches thereby limiting to wholly-owned subsidiaries)?

• If policies are in place that limit foreign ownership are there provisions that protect foreign companies from divestment once established (allow for grandfathering with acquired rights)?

5. Health and Financial Literacy: Foster a growth in cultural norms and societal beliefs around the importance of health care, the value of insurance, and the role of government and the private sector

Out-of-pocket spending on adverse health events drives 100 million people into poverty annually.[vi] Innovative healthcare financing and particularly long term healthcare financing could greatly improve this statistic but will require significant shifts in mindset and culture for citizens to embrace health insurance or other means of protection from future adverse health events. One of the key components of long term health financing is the element of trust between purchaser and provider. Much of the success in this area will require promotion by the government and trust between the government, the general public, and the private sector.

Enabler of Investment

Comment

• A culture of financial preparedness with the use of health insurance for expected and unexpected negative health events

• A culture of mutual trust, dependability, and partnership between public and private sector, with all parties working towards the same goal of improving access to care

• Health literacy and financial literacy regarding health insurance and its value

• A societal and political will to reduce out-of-pocket spending for healthcare

Key Questions / Performance Indicators

• Are health, financial, and insurance literacy components of the domestic education system?^[vii]

• Do government programs exist that highlight the benefits of health insurance as a way of defraying future out-of-pocket spending by individuals and families on their healthcare?

• What are out of pocket expenditures for health in your economy and which income segment (s) of the population are making these payments?

6. Quality Data and Evidence: Improve the quantity and quality of health data.

Standardized collection and analysis of health data (with appropriate privacy and security protections), are critical elements for determining problems, analyzing solutions, and eliminating waste. Quality data is one of the cornerstones of increasing and optimizing public and private investment in health services.

Enabler of Investment

Comment

• The consistent collection of data on access to healthcare, quality/outcomes of healthcare, and cost/utilization of healthcare services for use by the public and potentially the private sector^[2]

• Consistent intervals for data gathering that are coordinated by a designated entity

• Mechanisms to ensure the accuracy and completeness of data from both urban and rural settings

• Mechanisms to ensure the accuracy and completeness of data for all income levels

• Measurement of population specific health needs and outcomes from tailored health services

Key Questions / Performance Indicators

• What health data is currently being collected on an economy-wide basis and how is it protected?^[3]

• What data is available to the private sector and what are the protection requirements of the private sector?

• Do training programs exist regarding the collection of high quality data?

• Are there institutional structures in place that track specific health needs by populations and measure outcomes?