People's Daily health client reporter Zhao Mengmeng
On April 29, the Ningbo Municipal Medical Security Bureau of Zhejiang Province released the news that it took the lead in launching the price limit payment policy for dental implant medical insurance in the country, and organized 100 medical institutions to carry out collective contracts. The People's Daily health client reporter learned from the bureau that in Ningbo signed a medical institution within the scope of the implant directory, the whole process of implanting a tooth is only 3,000 yuan for domestic production, and the import only needs 3,500 yuan, which can be paid using the medical insurance account over the years.
Price cuts are expected to be between 50% and 80%
"Ningbo has a high level of economic development, a high penetration rate of implants, and a good basis for piloting dental implant price limits." Feng Wenmeng, a researcher at the Social Department of the Development Research Center of the State Council, told the People's Daily health client reporter.
At present, 103 medical institutions in Ningbo have participated in the medical insurance implant project, and 14 mainstream brands such as imported Volan, DIO and domestic Chuangying and ZDI have entered the scope of the directory.
"Once dental implants are included in the collection, according to the previous experience of national collection, the price reduction is expected to reach 50% to 80%, and the price reduction range of different materials and different products may also be different." Feng Wenmeng said that the sharp decline in the ex-factory price of implants is conducive to expanding the size of consumer groups.
There is a recognized fee for collecting or making dental implants
Why is the call for price reductions for dental implants so high? During the two sessions of the National People's Congress in 2020, Li Xiaoli, a deputy to the National People's Congress, proposed that the average cost of one implant tooth ranges from about 6,000 yuan to 20,000 yuan, and in addition to Shanghai, most other cities, regions and rural areas have not included oral implants in the scope of medical insurance reimbursement.
According to the results of the fourth national oral epidemiological survey, in the middle-aged and young people aged 35 to 44 years old, the tooth loss rate was about 36.4%, the average tooth volume was 29 per person, and the proportion of missing teeth had been repaired was 82.8%; among the 65-74-year-old people, 86% had tooth loss, the proportion of full mouth teethless was 4.5%, the average tooth volume was 22, and the proportion of missing teeth had been repaired was 63.2%.
"With the intensification of aging and the deep popularity of the concept of national health, all sectors of society are increasingly seeing the value of dental implants, and the demand for implants is increasing." Feng Wenmeng said, "However, at present, the price of the implant market is inflated, there is a lot of moisture in the circulation link, even the price of the same brand of implant teeth is uneven, the price difference is large, and the collection will make the price of dental implant have a relatively recognized standard." ”
Local collection of dental implants is already on the way
On February 11, 2022, Chen Jinfu, deputy director of the National Medical Security Bureau, said that with regard to dental implant collection, the first half of this year strives to launch a coalition reform of local collection. This also means that the local collection of dental implants has been "on the string".
This is not the first time that implant collection has been proposed at the national level. The executive meeting of the State Council held on January 10, 2022 has proposed to gradually expand the coverage of high-value medical consumables collection, and carry out collection and collection of dental implants that the masses are concerned about at the national and provincial levels.
The People's Daily health client reporter noted that in addition to Ningbo, there have been actions at other levels in other places. In November 2021, the Sichuan Pharmaceutical equipment bidding and procurement service center issued the "Notice on Carrying out Information Collection work on some oral high-value medical consumables products", and the scope of the declared products mainly involves oral implant systems, including oral implants, prosthetic abutments, implant repair accessories, etc.; in addition, Ningxia, Shanxi and other places have also issued similar notices.
Feng Wenmeng stressed, "With the gradual increase in attention, this year's implant collection is expected to press the speed button, and Ningbo, as a pilot area for dental implants, will undoubtedly play a demonstration role in the country." “
