Regional Healthcare Visions for 2040
Overview
To support prefectures in realizing regional healthcare visions, the government provides assistance from the planning stage in priority support areas and operates a consultation desk for municipalities on restructuring. Data from reports on bed functions and outpatient functions are published as open data and used as foundational material for discussions about local healthcare delivery systems. Guidance is also provided on establishing analytical capacity, the regional healthcare cooperation promotion corporation system, and financial support through a fund, as well as reduced real estate taxes, special depreciation, and preferential loans associated with restructuring.
Key points
- Support is provided in priority support areas, and a consultation desk for municipalities is available.
- Data from reports on bed and outpatient functions are organized and published as open data.
- Guidance is provided on financial support through a fund, tax incentives, special depreciation, and preferential loans.
Overview
To realize regional healthcare visions in the prefectures, the government outlines support measures that assist communities from planning through implementation. In addition to support in priority support areas, it operates a consultation desk for municipalities on restructuring and related matters.
Impact
Data from bed function reports and outpatient function reports are used primarily as foundational material for discussions about healthcare delivery systems in each region.
Details
Under Article 30-13 of the Medical Care Act, hospitals and clinics with beds that have long-term care beds or general beds report their bed functions and the medical care they provide to patients, among other information, to the prefectural governor. Under Articles 30-18-2 and 30-18-3 of the same Act, administrators of medical institutions report the status of outpatient medical care and related information.
The reported data are organized and published as open data. Measures include support for establishing data analysis capacity that reflects conditions on the ground, promoting use of the regional healthcare cooperation promotion corporation system, and providing financial support through the Regional Healthcare and Nursing Care Comprehensive Securing Fund for changes to bed functions or bed counts. Certain real estate acquired through restructuring under an approved restructuring plan qualifies for reduced registration and real estate acquisition taxes. Buildings and other assets acquired by private hospitals and similar institutions when restructuring beds under an agreed response policy qualify for special depreciation of 8% of the acquisition price. The Welfare and Medical Service Agency provides preferential loans for construction and operating funds to private hospitals and similar institutions.