TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Administration will enhance its pay-for-performance program for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease care starting next year to improve treatment quality and encourage more healthcare professionals to participate.

The program links hospital funding to patient outcomes by adjusting payments based on performance, aiming to promote comprehensive care and prioritize patient health. The NHIA plans to inject an additional NT$25 million (US$809,651) into the initiative to expand outreach for severe and high-risk patients and strengthen overall care coverage, according to CNA.

COPD inflames and narrows the airways, making it difficult for air to move in and out of the lungs, according to the Health Promotion Administration. It has consistently ranked among Taiwan’s top 10 causes of death, claiming more than 6,000 lives each year.

A nationwide survey released Tuesday by the Taiwan Society of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine found that 61% of COPD patients also suffer from cardiovascular diseases. Conducted across 15 hospitals with 1,240 participants, the study also showed that patients who experience acute exacerbations face a 4.6-fold higher risk of cardiovascular events.

NHIA head Chen Liang-yu (陳亮妤) said 211 medical institutions participated in the COPD performance-based program last year, providing care for about 28,000 patients. She added the agency collaborated with medical associations and experts this year to revise the program in line with international treatment guidelines.

The updated plan will simplify quality indicators and case management documentation while raising care fees and incentive points to better reflect the work of medical teams. The administration hopes these adjustments will attract more healthcare professionals to participate in COPD care.