The Cabinet has approved new UCEP criteria: critically ill emergency patients receive free treatment for 72 hours.

The Cabinet approved the UCEP criteria, designating hospitals to treat critically ill emergency patients free of charge for the first 72 hours, and allowing appeals against triage results within 90 days.

On September 15, 2026, at 2:28 PM, Ms. Ploytalay Laksmisangchan, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that the Cabinet had approved the criteria, methods, and conditions for determining the costs of providing care for critically ill emergency patients (Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients: UCEP) B.E. .... as proposed by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH).

Ms. Ploytalee stated that the key points of the UCEP guidelines of 20.... can be summarized as follows:

1. Medical facilities are obligated to provide emergency and critically ill patients with prompt treatment to prevent them from harm, in accordance with professional standards and the capabilities of the medical facility, without charging for medical services. Medical facilities are also required to promptly notify the legally entitled healthcare fund or relevant agencies. However, any act of relieving oneself of duty or waiving a patient's rights as described above is considered an act with a prohibited purpose under the law.

2. Licensed medical facilities and operators shall arrange for a qualified professional to triage the level of emergency and provide care to patients according to the urgency of the emergency. In case of diagnostic problems in triaging emergency patients, consultation shall be sought from the National Institute of Emergency Medical Services (NIEMS). If a patient disagrees with the triage result, an appeal may be filed with NIEMS within 90 days from the date of signing the triage assessment form. NIEMS shall consider the appeal and complete the process within 60 days from the date of receipt of the appeal. If it is necessary to extend the period for a further 30 days from the original deadline, the NIEMS decision shall be final. If the appeal decision reveals that the patient meets the criteria for a critical emergency, the medical facility must refund the money collected within 30 days from the date of notification of the decision.

3. Medical facilities must provide care for critically ill emergency patients until they are out of critical condition, and must continue to treat the symptoms or causes that caused the critical condition for up to 72 hours from the time of admission of the critically ill emergency patient. Medical facilities may, as appropriate, transfer patients to other medical facilities in the following specific cases:

(1) In the event that the medical facility does not have sufficient capacity
(2) Emergency patients who are in critical condition have passed the critical condition and there is a medical facility to provide care.
(3) A critically ill emergency patient or their substitute manager wishes to receive treatment at another medical facility.

4. Medical facilities shall receive reimbursement for expenses incurred during the period from the admission of a critically ill emergency patient until 72 hours later, at the rates specified in the schedule and expense rates attached to these guidelines. Medical facilities shall claim expenses incurred within 72 hours of admitting a critically ill emergency patient from the National Health Security Office (NHSO). For expenses incurred after 72 hours of admitting a critically ill emergency patient, the medical facility shall claim reimbursement from the fund of the beneficiary entitled to medical treatment under the relevant law (e.g., the National Health Security Act), or from the relevant agency according to the beneficiary's entitlements, or from the patient themselves. This shall be in accordance with the medical fee rates of the medical facility or as previously agreed upon.

5. The NHSO shall verify the accuracy and summarize the expenses, and notify the fund of those entitled to medical treatment under the law or the relevant agencies within 30 days of receiving complete documents. The fund of those entitled to medical treatment under the law or the relevant agencies shall then pay the expenses according to the rates specified in the attached schedule to the medical facilities within 15 days of the date the NHSO notifies the results of the verification and expense summary.

6. In the event that a critically ill emergency patient is transferred from one medical facility to a second medical facility before the expiration of 72 hours from the time the critically ill emergency patient was admitted to the first medical facility, the second medical facility will be responsible for the expenses incurred during the period from the time the critically ill emergency patient was admitted until the expiration of 72 hours. This period will be counted continuously from the time the first medical facility admitted the critically ill emergency patient, at the rates specified in the attached schedule and expense rates. However, if the second medical facility accepts a transfer of a critically ill emergency patient who already has their own medical insurance coverage, they shall follow the system of that medical insurance coverage.

1) In cases where a contracted medical facility under the Social Security Office accepts the transfer of a critically ill emergency patient under its jurisdiction (Social Security beneficiary), it must follow the Social Security Office's system.
2) In cases where a contracted medical facility of the NHSO accepts the transfer of a critically ill emergency patient under their responsibility (National Health Security Scheme coverage), they must follow the NHSO system.
3) In cases where a government hospital accepts a transfer of a critically ill emergency patient who is entitled to benefits under the Medical Welfare Act B.E. 2553 (2010) and its amendments (e.g., civil servant benefits), the procedure shall be followed as prescribed by the Department of the Comptroller General.

7. Critically ill emergency patients are responsible for their own medical expenses in the following cases:

1) In cases where a medical facility transfers a critically ill emergency patient who is no longer in a critical condition, and there is another medical facility available to provide care, but the critically ill emergency patient or their representative refuses the transfer.
2) In cases where a critically ill emergency patient or their substitute manager wishes to receive treatment at another medical facility.

8. Where necessary, the Minister of Public Health, with the approval of the Hospital Board, shall review and revise the lists and rates attached to these guidelines to ensure their appropriateness, taking into account the benefits that critically ill emergency patients will receive. The results of this review and revision of the lists and rates attached to these guidelines shall be submitted to the Cabinet for approval.

9. These regulations shall be effective from the date the Cabinet resolution was passed onwards.

10. Medical facilities that admitted COVID-19 patients before the effective date of these guidelines shall charge expenses incurred in accordance with the Ministry of Public Health's announcement regarding the criteria, methods, and conditions for determining expenses in the treatment of critically ill emergency patients [in the case of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)] and its amendments, until the patient is discharged from the hospital according to the patient discharge criteria of the Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health.

11. Any action that is being taken in accordance with the UCEP guidelines and the UCEP guidelines for COVID-19 as per Clause 2 before the UCEP guidelines of 20.... come into effect shall be considered as being taken in accordance with the UCEP guidelines of 20.... and any further action shall be in accordance with the UCEP guidelines of 20....

However, if a critically ill emergency patient is entitled to protection under the Motor Vehicle Accident Victims Protection Act, the Life Insurance Act, or the Property Insurance Act, those rights should be exercised first.

Ms. Ploytalee stated that the revision of the UCEP (Universal Coverage Emergency Patient) criteria will result in more appropriate and aligned medical care for patients receiving treatment at healthcare facilities, in line with the current emergency medical management system. This will also benefit critically ill emergency patients by providing timely treatment, increasing their chances of survival, and reducing the financial burden of emergency treatment.

Reference: www.thaigov.go.th

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