Particle.news
Download on the App Store

China Orders Nationwide Review of Mental Health Institutions After Insurance Abuse Allegations

The watchdog set deadlines covering meetings, inspections, refunds in response to Hubei exposés.

Overview

  • The National Healthcare Security Administration directed provincial bureaus to meet directors of all mental institutes by Sunday and organize thorough checks by March 15.
  • Authorities ordered recovery of any illegally used medical insurance funds and required rectification reports to be submitted by the end of March.
  • The action follows reports from Hubei of patients being locked up, including people not suffering from mental illness, to extract national insurance subsidies.
  • Local accounts detailed free admissions, fabricated diagnoses and treatment charges, and strict controls that included physical abuse of patients.
  • The NHSA advised provinces to use the Hubei findings as case studies to strengthen management and curb insurance fraud across the sector.