At the third session of the 14th Municipal People's Congress, Liu Jigang, Deputy Director of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress, gave an explanation on the "Beijing Home-based Elderly Care Service Regulations (Draft)". The draft proposes that for common and chronic diseases among the elderly, government-invested community health service institutions will provide medical services, and by improving the basic medical insurance reimbursement policy for community medication, facilitate treatment and medication. For the 96% of elderly people receiving home-based care in the city, community hospitals' treatment of chronic diseases in the elderly will be legally guaranteed. Previously, the "Beijing Home-based Elderly Care Service Regulations (Draft)" underwent three reviews by the Standing Committee of the People's Congress. At this session of the People's Congress, it is the only regulatory draft submitted for review; it is also the second time after the "Beijing Air Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations" that the People's Congress collectively reviewed a regulation. After the draft is reviewed, it will be voted on January 29. If passed, it is planned to take effect on May 1, 2015. Highlights Easier medical treatment and medication for the elderly The draft regulations stipulate that community health service institutions should establish health records for elderly people living at home, provide regular free physical examinations and flu vaccinations as required; offer priority medical consultations and two-way referrals with other medical institutions. The draft also requires municipal departments such as Human Resources and Social Security, Health and Family Planning to improve the basic medical insurance reimbursement policy for community medication, reform and improve the grassroots medical institutions' service functions and medication systems, ensure the supply of medicines in community health service institutions, and facilitate medication for elderly people treating common and chronic diseases in the community. Elderly care services include spiritual comfort Home-based elderly care services mainly include: meal services, medical services, emergency rescue services, and providing care visits, companionship, emotional communication, psychological counseling for very old and solitary elderly; organizing cultural, recreational, and sports activities beneficial to the physical and mental health of the elderly. The draft adds provisions related to "family responsibility." Children and others legally obligated to support and care for the elderly should fulfill their duties of economic support, daily care, and spiritual comfort. If social services are needed, the elderly's families shall bear corresponding costs based on the nature and quantity of the services. Elderly care facilities in both new and old communities The draft stipulates that elderly care facilities in newly built residential areas must be planned, constructed, inspected, and delivered simultaneously with the residences. For old communities lacking elderly care facilities or with substandard existing facilities, district and county governments should arrange facilities through purchase, replacement, leasing, or other means. If managers or users of community elderly care facilities arbitrarily change the functions or uses of government-invested or subsidized elderly care facilities, the civil affairs department shall order corrections. If corrections are refused and the situation is serious, management and usage rights may be revoked, fines ranging from 100,000 to 1,000,000 yuan may be imposed, and subsidy funds and related expenses shall be recovered.