PATIENTS needing treatment for COVID-19 will not have to pay pricey bills for hospitalization out of their own pockets until at least the end of March, according to authorities.

Additionally, outpatient costs will be more generously refunded if incurred at smaller hospitals serving vast rural areas, they added.

The policies were outlined in a circular released recently by the National Healthcare Security Administration, the Ministry of Finance, the National Health Commission and the National Administration for Disease Prevention and Control.

For the last few years, the State has settled all expenses for the diagnosis and treatment of COVID at centralized isolation facilities. Payment liability issues were only brought to the fore last month, when health authorities allowed patients to be treated at any hospital of their choice.

The circular said the State will continue to pay for hospitalization costs until at least March 31.(China Daily)