[Explanation] Medical Changes from June: Medical Fee Increase, "Appointment Cancellation Fees" Have Conditions and Require Prior Patient Consent – au Web Portal

News Highlights

From June 2026, medical fees will be revised, allowing for the collection of appointment cancellation fees in some cases. However, prior patient consent will be a condition for collection. Additionally, medical fees will be increased. This revision is noteworthy from the perspective of healthcare M&A and business succession, including mid-to-long-term management and succession strategies for healthcare institutions, maintaining facility standards through economies of scale, dispersing the burden of equipment investment, and utilizing tax benefits by transitioning to specific medical corporations or social medical corporations.

M&A Medical Editorial Department's Perspective

今回の診療報酬改定、特に「診察予約のキャンセル料」導入の条件付き容認は、医療機関の収益構造に新たな変化をもたらします。これまで原則無料であったキャンセルが、患者同意を前提に有料化できるとなれば、特に予約枠が埋まりにくい専門性の高いクリニックや、周辺に競合が多い地域では、患者確保と収益安定化の両面で戦略的な活用が期待できます。例えば、キャンセル率が高いと経営を圧迫するような、高額な検査や専門的な治療を予約するケースでは、この制度を機に収益管理を見直す契機となるでしょう。さらに、診療報酬の引き上げと合わせて、クリニックの事業価値評価にも影響を与える可能性があります。M&Aを検討する上で、こうした収益構造の変化を織り込んだデューデリジェンスが、より一層重要になると言えます。

Points Raised by This News

• The conditional acceptance of cancellation fee collection serves as an opportunity to analyze clinic revenue management and its impact on patient behavior.
• The increase in medical fees directly affects the business valuation of clinics and may be reflected in M&A price negotiations.
• Streamlining and monetizing appointment management leads to enhanced competitiveness, especially for highly specialized clinics or in competitive regions.
• The process of obtaining patient consent will question the healthcare institution's service provision system and the quality of patient communication.

Practical Questions Arising from This News

• If cancellation fees are to be collected, what kind of consent form format is recommended?
• To what extent and in which medical specialties will the medical fee increase specifically have an impact?
• How should cancellation fee revenue be accounted for and managed as income for a medical corporation?

If You Feel "Should I Consult Too?"

Will there be any changes to your institution's appointment management system or revenue structure due to this medical fee revision? Particularly, with the possibility of collecting cancellation fees, how do you anticipate it will affect patient acquisition strategies and revenue stabilization? Please consider specific simulations or consultations with experts regarding business valuation with M&A in mind and reviewing management strategies prompted by the revision.

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