Suffering from a rare disease or cancer but struggling to afford expensive medication? The Community Care Fund (CCF) Medical Assistance Programmes aim to provide financial assistance to financially vulnerable individuals, particularly those not covered by the social safety net or patients with special needs not currently met, by subsidizing the cost of specific drugs or medical devices to alleviate their medical financial burden.
CCF Medical Assistance Programmes: At a Glance
CCF Medical Assistance Programmes | Programmes Covered
- CCF Medical Assistance Programmes | Eligibility Criteria
- CCF Medical Assistance Programmes | Drug Cost Subsidy
- CCF Medical Assistance Programmes | Medical Device Cost Subsidy
- CCF Medical Assistance Programmes | Referral & Application Procedures
Currently, three programmes are being implemented:
- First Stage Programme (Specific Self-financed Cancer Drugs)
- Subsidy for Eligible Patients to Purchase Ultra-Expensive Drugs (including drugs for treating uncommon diseases)
- Subsidy for Eligible Public Hospital Patients to Purchase Specified Medical Devices for use in Intervention Procedures and Implantation
For the detailed lists of self-financed drugs and medical devices covered under each programme, please refer to the Hospital Authority's "Community Care Fund Medical Assistance Programmes" website.
CCF Medical Assistance Programmes Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following conditions:
- Medical Need: The medical item is assessed as necessary according to the HA's prevailing clinical guidelines by an HA doctor; OR the drug item must be prescribed by a designated HA doctor.
- Residency Status:
- For the "First Stage Programme" and the "Medical Devices" programme: The patient must be an "eligible person" as defined under the Hospital Authority Ordinance.
- For the "Ultra-Expensive Drugs" programme: The patient must be a Hong Kong permanent resident under the Immigration Ordinance.
- Means Test: The patient must pass a means test conducted by a medical social worker, which is calculated based on the "household" as a unit.
CCF Medical Assistance Programmes Drug Cost Subsidy
The maximum amount a patient needs to contribute towards drug costs depends on their household's "Annual Available Financial Resources" and the estimated drug cost of the application.
- Under the "First Stage Programme":
- If the estimated drug cost is lower than the patient's maximum contribution amount, the patient must bear the full drug cost.
- If the estimated drug cost is higher than the patient's maximum contribution amount, the difference will be subsidized by the Fund.
Reference Table for Patient Maximum Drug Cost Contribution:
- Annual Available Financial Resources $0 - $20,000 → Patient Maximum Contribution $0
- Annual Available Financial Resources $20,001 - $40,000 → Patient Maximum Contribution $1,000
- Annual Available Financial Resources $40,001 - $60,000 → Patient Maximum Contribution $2,000
- Annual Available Financial Resources above $60,000 → Contribution rate varies between 5% to 20%
Under the "Subsidy for Eligible Patients to Purchase Ultra-Expensive Drugs" programme, the cap on the patient's co-payment is set at $1 million.
For detailed drug cost contribution amounts, please refer to the progressive computation table provided by the HA.
CCF Medical Assistance Programmes Medical Device Cost Subsidy
- Income Limit: The patient's total monthly household income must not exceed 1.25 times the median monthly domestic household income corresponding to the household size.
- Asset Test:
- Full subsidy is generally granted if the household assets are not more than twice the estimated cost of the required item (and deposit, if applicable), AND do not exceed the "Full Subsidy Asset Limit" corresponding to the household size.
- If household assets are not more than twice the estimated cost but exceed the "Full Subsidy Asset Limit", OR if household assets are more than twice but not exceeding three times the estimated cost, the patient needs to share part of the cost, with the maximum contribution capped at 25% of the household assets.
CCF Medical Assistance Programmes Referral & Application Procedures
- Referral Process: If a patient needs to pay for specific self-financed items or drugs required during medical treatment, the attending doctor will inform the patient and provide the estimated cost. Patients receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) or those expressing difficulty affording the costs will be referred by the doctor to a medical social worker to assess eligibility for assistance.
- Application Procedure:
- Applicants should inquire or apply at the Medical Social Work Unit of the hospital or clinic during office hours.
- Relevant supporting documents (original and copy) must be submitted upon application. Patients receiving CSSA also need to go through the application procedure.
- Application by Proxy: Parents can apply on behalf of their children under 18; formally authorized persons; guardians appointed under the Mental Health Ordinance (Chapter 136); or any other person can act as a proxy to apply for patients who are incapable or unable to apply themselves.
- Application Timeline: Generally, applicants should submit the completed application form and all required documents at least two weeks before the scheduled start date of the treatment course to allow sufficient processing time. Applications will be automatically cancelled if the completed form and all required documents are not submitted within 30 days from the referral date.
