Assistance of Child Patients with Application for Medical Grant for Glasses Treatment

Purpose: In Japan the medical grant-aid program was introduced in April 2006, for child patients under 9 years old who need glasses for treatment. Since then, we have tried to fully explain the new program to child patients and their parents. We also have given a hand with its procedure, such as completion of the application form and check of documents attached to it, as well as we started for child patients and their parents in the previous medical grant-aid program in 2003. To grasp the actual conditions of the medical grant the applicants receive, a questionnaire survey was carried out.Subjects and Methods: Subjects were 274 applicants for medical grant: 55 in the previous program and 219 in the new program. The 55 applicants applied at 10 months to 8 years old (mean age: 4.2±2.1 years) during the period of 2003 to March 2006. The 219 applicants applied at 1 to 8 years old (mean age: 5.5±1.8 years) during the period of October 2006 to March 2007. The questionnaire was about the amount of medical grant each of the applicants received, time period taken for receiving the grant, and services offered at Social Welfare Offices in the previous program or in the new program.Results: Of 274 questionnaire sheets, 118 (43.1%) were returned: 17 (31.0%) of 55 on the previous program and 101 (46.1%) of 219 on the new program. The application method is explained to applicants after new program. However, there are almost no parents who know in advance. Of the 17 applicants, 13 successfully received their grants, but 6 failed to. Of the 101 applicants, 98 received their grants, but 3 failed to. Both in the programs, the applicants received about 70% of the amount of medical grant they demanded. It took 4.5 months to receive the grant in the previous program, but only 2 weeks to one month in the new program. Although there were many difficulties to get grant under previous program, there became more successful and easier under new program.Conclusion: The medical grant-aid program is not yet well known to child patients who need glasses for treatment and have requirements for application. The medical staffs should actively try to make the program known to the child patients and to help them to apply for the medical grant.