Article 8Basic Policy for Regulating Medical Expenses and National Plan for Regulating Medical Expenses
第八条（医療費適正化基本方針及び全国医療費適正化計画）
From the perspective of ensuring appropriate medical care for the people in old age, in order to promote the optimization of expenses required for medical care (hereinafter referred to as "optimization of medical expenses") in a comprehensive and systematic manner, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare is to establish basic policies concerning measures for the optimization of medical expenses (hereinafter referred to as the "basic policies for the optimization of medical expenses"), and establish a plan for promoting the optimization of medical expenses every six years (hereinafter referred to as the "national plan for the optimization of medical expenses") with six years as one period.
厚生労働大臣は、国民の高齢期における適切な医療の確保を図る観点から、医療に要する費用の適正化（以下「医療費適正化」という。）を総合的かつ計画的に推進するため、医療費適正化に関する施策についての基本的な方針（以下「医療費適正化基本方針」という。）を定めるとともに、六年ごとに、六年を一期として、医療費適正化を推進するための計画（以下「全国医療費適正化計画」という。）を定めるものとする。
The Basic Policy on Regulating Medical Expenses is to provide for the following matters:
医療費適正化基本方針においては、次に掲げる事項を定めるものとする。
the standards to be taken into consideration pertaining to the targets to be specified in the Prefectural Plan for Regulating Medical Expenses as prescribed in paragraph (1) of the following Article and other basic matters to be guidelines in preparing the plan;
次条第一項に規定する都道府県医療費適正化計画において定めるべき目標に係る参酌すべき標準その他の当該計画の作成に当たつて指針となるべき基本的な事項
basic matters concerning the evaluation of the degree of achievement of the prefectural plan for regulating medical expenses prescribed in paragraph (1) of the following Article;
次条第一項に規定する都道府県医療費適正化計画の達成状況の評価に関する基本的な事項
basic particulars concerning investigation and analysis of the expenses required for medical services;
医療に要する費用の調査及び分析に関する基本的な事項
beyond what is set forth in the preceding three items, important matters concerning the promotion of the optimization of medical expenses.
The basic policies for regulating medical expenses must be in harmony with the basic policies prescribed in Article 30-3, paragraph (1) of the Medical Care Act, the basic guidelines prescribed in the Article 116, paragraph (1) of the Long-Term Care Insurance Act (Act No. 123 of 1997), and the basic policies prescribed in Article 7, paragraph (1) of the Health Promotion Act (Act No. 103 of 2002).
医療費適正化基本方針は、医療法第三十条の三第一項に規定する基本方針、介護保険法（平成九年法律第百二十三号）第百十六条第一項に規定する基本指針及び健康増進法（平成十四年法律第百三号）第七条第一項に規定する基本方針と調和が保たれたものでなければならない。
The National Plan for Regulating Medical Expenses is to specify the following matters:
全国医療費適正化計画においては、次に掲げる事項を定めるものとする。
the particulars of the goals that the national government must achieve to advance the optimization of medical expenses in connection with the furtherance of the people's commitment to maintaining their health;
国民の健康の保持の推進に関し、医療費適正化の推進のために国が達成すべき目標に関する事項
with regard to the promotion of the efficient provision of medical care, matters concerning the targets to be achieved by the national government for the promotion of the optimization of medical expenses;
医療の効率的な提供の推進に関し、医療費適正化の推進のために国が達成すべき目標に関する事項
matters concerning measures to be taken by the national government in order to achieve the goals set forth in the preceding two items;
前二号の目標を達成するために国が取り組むべき施策に関する事項
particulars concerning coordination and cooperation among insurers, Association of Medical Care Systems for the Elderly Aged 75 and older, medical institutions, and other relevant persons in order to achieve the goals set forth in items (i) and (ii);
第一号及び第二号の目標を達成するための保険者、後期高齢者医療広域連合、医療機関その他の関係者の連携及び協力に関する事項
in light of the implementation of projects based on the medical care plan (meaning the medical care plan prescribed in Article 30-4, paragraph (1) of the Medical Care Act; the same applies hereinafter) of each prefecture, matters concerning the results of the promotion of the differentiation and coordination of the bed functions (meaning the bed functions prescribed in Article 30-3, paragraph (2), item (vi) of the same Act; the same applies hereinafter) expected during the period of the plan;
各都道府県の医療計画（医療法第三十条の四第一項に規定する医療計画をいう。以下同じ。）に基づく事業の実施を踏まえ、計画の期間において見込まれる病床の機能（同法第三十条の三第二項第六号に規定する病床の機能をいう。以下同じ。）の分化及び連携の推進の成果に関する事項
matters concerning the prospective expenses required for medical care during the period of the plan calculated pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, based on the matters set forth in the preceding item, the expected effects of the optimization of medical expenses through the promotion of the maintenance of citizens' health and the promotion of the efficient provision of medical care to achieve the goals set forth in items (i) and (ii), and other matters specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (referred to as the "national target of expenses required for medical care" in Article 11, paragraph (7));
matters concerning the evaluation of the status of the achievement of the plan;
計画の達成状況の評価に関する事項
beyond what is set forth in the preceding items, matters necessary for promoting the optimization of medical expenses.
In specifying the particulars set forth in items (i) through (iii) of the preceding paragraph, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare is to pay attention to the significance of promoting the differentiation and coordination of bed functions, securing the family doctor function prescribed in Article 6-3, paragraph (1) of the Medical Care Act (referred to as the "family doctor function" in paragraph (4) of the following Article), efforts towards the establishment of the community-based integrated care system prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (1) of the Act on Promotion of Comprehensive Securing of Medical and Long-Term Care in Communities (Act No. 64 of 1989) (referred to as the "community-based integrated care system" in paragraph (4) of the following Article), and the effective and efficient provision of medical care and nursing care in light of the physical, mental and social characteristics of the citizens as they age.
厚生労働大臣は、前項第一号から第三号までに掲げる事項を定めるに当たつては、病床の機能の分化及び連携の推進、医療法第六条の三第一項に規定するかかりつけ医機能（次条第四項において「かかりつけ医機能」という。）の確保並びに地域における医療及び介護の総合的な確保の促進に関する法律（平成元年法律第六十四号）第二条第一項に規定する地域包括ケアシステム（次条第四項において「地域包括ケアシステム」という。）の構築に向けた取組並びに国民の加齢に伴う身体的、精神的及び社会的な特性を踏まえた医療及び介護の効果的かつ効率的な提供の重要性に留意するものとする。
The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare is to consult with the head of a relevant administrative organ in advance, when intending to establish or change the Basic Policies for Regulating Medical Expenses or the National Plan for Regulating Medical Expenses.
厚生労働大臣は、医療費適正化基本方針及び全国医療費適正化計画を定め、又はこれを変更しようとするときは、あらかじめ、関係行政機関の長に協議するものとする。
When the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare has established or revised the Basic Policies for Ensuring Appropriate Medical Expenses and the National Plan for Ensuring Appropriate Medical Expenses, the Minister is to publicize this without delay.
厚生労働大臣は、医療費適正化基本方針及び全国医療費適正化計画を定め、又はこれを変更したときは、遅滞なく、これを公表するものとする。
The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare may request necessary cooperation from insurers, Association of Medical Care Systems for the Elderly Aged 75 and older, medical institutions, and other relevant persons, when the Minister finds it necessary for the preparation of the national plan for regulating medical expenses and the implementation of measures based on the national plan for regulating medical expenses.
厚生労働大臣は、全国医療費適正化計画の作成及び全国医療費適正化計画に基づく施策の実施に関して必要があると認めるときは、保険者、後期高齢者医療広域連合、医療機関その他の関係者に対して必要な協力を求めることができる。
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