The bill was passed on first reading and was referred to the House Committee on Health and Education.
The bill was introduced during the first day of July session.The bill said that the OEK find that the health care costs have risen in the country in recent years and that the elderly, disabled, and homebound are increasingly having trouble being able to afford medical care.“Many of these people have low incomes, already face higher health care costs due to long term conditions and cannot afford the cost of their care,” Isechal said.Isechal said that people who are over 60 years of age, homebound or disabled shall have the costs of medical care administered through the Ministry of Health reduced by 50 percent.Presently the Ministry of Health applies a sliding fee scale in charging for medical care which is based on the patient’s ability to pay.With the fee schedule Palauan citizens are charged a subsidized rate compared to non-Palauans.
