高額療養費の負担上限引き上げへ　医療費抑制、年内に方向性―厚労省

　厚生労働省は、医療機関で患者が支払う自己負担に限度額を設ける「高額療養費制度」の負担上限を引き上げる検討を始めた。高齢化や技術の進展で高額化する医療費を抑制し、現役世代の保険料負担を抑える狙い。近く本格的な議論に入り、年内にも一定の方向性を打ち出す。
　高額療養費制度は、手術などで患者の自己負担額が高くなった場合、年収に応じて設けられた上限を超えた分を公的医療保険制度で払い戻す仕組み。２０１７～１８年に行われた前回の見直しから賃金が伸びていることを踏まえ、患者の負担上限を見直す。ただ、負担増を伴うため与野党間の協議は難航しそうだ。（2024/11/15-17:23）

Japan's health ministry is considering raising the caps on out-of-pocket payments patients make to hospitals under the public health insurance system.
   The ministry hopes that such a hike would help curb the medical costs borne by the insurance system, which are increasing owing to the aging population and advancing medical technologies, and limit public health insurance premiums paid by working generations.
   The ministry hopes to begin discussions on the issue soon and decide a basic course of action within this year at the earliest.
   The public health insurance system has the High-Cost Medical Expense Benefit program, which pays refunds to patients who made out-of-pocket payments to hospitals exceeding the limits set in line with their incomes.
   The ministry will review the caps as wages have increased since the previous revision in 2017-2018.