Government Formula To Reduce The Deficit In BPJS Kesehatan

JAKARTA - The government continues to seek ways to reduce the deficit that occurs in the Social Security Administering Body (BPJS) for Health. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani said the government had increased the premium for BPJS Kesehatan participants in the category of contribution assistance recipients (PBI) that the government paid for had increased since August 2019.

"Participants from the TNI / Polri and the regional State Civil Service (ASN) have also increased from October 2020," said Sri Mulyani after a joint meeting between the DPR and the government at the parliament complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday, February 18.

Sri Mulyani said that with this increase, the government had provided an additional Rp. 13.5 trillion to BPJS Kesehatan in the period August to December 2019.

This addition could reduce the BPJS Health deficit, which was previously estimated at Rp. 32 trillion, to the current position that is still a deficit of Rp. 15.5 trillion and there are still more than 5,000 health facilities that have not been fully paid.

"That's the situation facing BPJS Kesehatan today. With the increase in contributions, we have budgeted Rp. 48 trillion for 2020, which is expected to provide additional revenue from BPJS Kesehatan so that it can fulfill its pending obligations," he said.

The Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy said the government had raised the target of receiving the Health Social Security Administering Body (BPJS) from participant contributions from 60 percent to 70 percent.

"Although the 60 percent target has never been met, it has become a commitment from BPJS Kesehatan," said Muhadjir.

Muhadjir argued that there might be a decrease in BPJS Kesehatan receipts from the contributions of participants in the National Health Insurance (JKN) program if class III participants in the category of non-wage workers and non-workers are transferred to receive contribution assistance following the increase in participant contributions starting January 1, 2020.

"If the solution is to include class III participants in the category of non-wage earners and non-workers as contribution beneficiaries, we will immediately do that if it becomes a joint decision," he said.

Muhadjir said the joint meeting on the resolution of the BPJS Health problem involved all relevant ministries / agencies and commissions in the DPR.

"So far, it is still partial, unilateral statements. So this is the whole government. The agreement between the government and the DPR," he said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the DPR, Puan Maharani, said that the joint meeting of the DPR and the government had indeed discussed matters related to the increase in BPJS Health contributions which took effect on January 1, 2020.

"There is a desire from the DPR so that the contribution of class III participants in the category of workers who are not wage earners and non-workers is not increased. Therefore, I ask the government to explain the basics of increasing the contribution," he explained.

Through the joint meeting, the PDI-P politician hopes that the DPR and the government can equalize the perception that there is a desire from the DPR not to increase the BPJS Health contribution.