[Karada Genki Chiryoin] Is it right to revise the system based on a survey with a 1.7% valid response rate? Submission of a petition for industry reform to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Karada Genki Chiryoin submitted a petition to the MHLW opposing system revisions for visiting massage based on flawed survey data, demanding fair prices and industry reform.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 19:10
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 25, 2026 at 03:48 (17h 16m after Collected)
■ Overview
Karada Genki Chiryoin Co., Ltd. (https://www.karada-genki.com/), which provides visiting acupuncture and massage services nationwide for the elderly and physically challenged, submitted a petition jointly with the Japan Medical Care Insurance Association and the Japan Nursing Care Business Association to the Medical Economics Division, Health Insurance Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on April 23, 2026, and exchanged opinions with officials in charge.
Visiting acupuncture and massage is an essential home support service that allows the elderly and physically challenged who have difficulty visiting hospitals to continue living in their familiar communities.
In the FY2026 revision discussions, system reviews are currently being debated based on survey results with a valid response rate of only 1.7%. Against this backdrop, the petition calls for a sustainable system design based on actual field conditions.
Submission of the petition
Petition cover
■ Background of the Proposal
The necessity of 'price pass-through' in the official pricing system
Currently, the government is promoting 'price pass-through' as a national policy to appropriately reflect the soaring prices of goods and labor. Visiting acupuncture and massage are strongly affected by vehicle costs, fuel costs, recruitment costs (practitioner recruitment wages have risen significantly compared to a few years ago), and treatment equipment purchase costs. It is essential to revise the evaluation to break through the current situation where passing on costs through self-help efforts is difficult due to official prices, and to maintain the supply system as a social infrastructure.
■ Four Pillars of the Proposal
1. Appropriate increase in medical fees based on the 'price pass-through' philosophy
Considering the rise in various costs, we requested revisions that reflect substantial cost increases, such as setting the minimum visiting practitioner fee 1 at 5,000 yen.
2. Opposition to the proposed 'visit ratio regulation' and introduction of alternative evaluations based on medical necessity
We opposed the uniform tightening of regulations that 'restrict payments when the ratio of visits to specific facilities is 70-80% or more', and called for a mechanism to appropriately evaluate 'true medical necessity', such as records of collaboration with physicians.
3. Elimination of unfair referral fees and clear separation of legitimate 'administrative outsourcing fees'
While agreeing with the elimination of inappropriate kickbacks, we requested the formulation of clear guidelines that recognize compensation for legitimate administrative burdens, such as coordination, occurring on the facility side.
4. Participation of 'field operators and patient representatives' in revision discussions
Rather than one-sided medical cost reduction arguments by experts who do not understand the reality of visiting acupuncture and massage, we demanded the restructuring of the discussion forum to be grounded in reality by appropriately including operators actually working in the field and patient representatives in the Acupuncture and Massage Medical Fee Review Committee.
■ Karada Genki Chiryoin's Resolution (Leading industry reform and normalization)
Karada Genki Chiryoin Co., Ltd. will fulfill its responsibility as a nationwide chain and set an example by eliminating inappropriate cases and improving transparency. We will transform discussions from mere cost reduction to discussions for the 'true value' of allowing citizens to continue home life with peace of mind, strongly leading the sound development of the visiting acupuncture and massage industry.
Japan Medical Care Insurance Association
Chairman and President: Shuichi Hayashi
Japan Nursing Care Business Association
Chairman: Jiro Aichi
[Company Profile]
Company Name: Karada Genki Chiryoin Co., Ltd.
Representative: Representative Director Shuichi Hayashi
Location: 2-30-12-6F Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Business: Visiting acupuncture and massage business for the elderly and physically challenged (nationwide expansion)
URL: https://www.karada-genki.com/
[Inquiries regarding this matter]
Organization: Japan Medical Care Insurance Association
Contact: Takahashi
TEL: 03-6903-0960
Karada Genki Chiryoin Co., Ltd. (https://www.karada-genki.com/), which provides visiting acupuncture and massage services nationwide for the elderly and physically challenged, submitted a petition jointly with the Japan Medical Care Insurance Association and the Japan Nursing Care Business Association to the Medical Economics Division, Health Insurance Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on April 23, 2026, and exchanged opinions with officials in charge.
Visiting acupuncture and massage is an essential home support service that allows the elderly and physically challenged who have difficulty visiting hospitals to continue living in their familiar communities.
In the FY2026 revision discussions, system reviews are currently being debated based on survey results with a valid response rate of only 1.7%. Against this backdrop, the petition calls for a sustainable system design based on actual field conditions.
Submission of the petition
Petition cover
■ Background of the Proposal
The necessity of 'price pass-through' in the official pricing system
Currently, the government is promoting 'price pass-through' as a national policy to appropriately reflect the soaring prices of goods and labor. Visiting acupuncture and massage are strongly affected by vehicle costs, fuel costs, recruitment costs (practitioner recruitment wages have risen significantly compared to a few years ago), and treatment equipment purchase costs. It is essential to revise the evaluation to break through the current situation where passing on costs through self-help efforts is difficult due to official prices, and to maintain the supply system as a social infrastructure.
■ Four Pillars of the Proposal
1. Appropriate increase in medical fees based on the 'price pass-through' philosophy
Considering the rise in various costs, we requested revisions that reflect substantial cost increases, such as setting the minimum visiting practitioner fee 1 at 5,000 yen.
2. Opposition to the proposed 'visit ratio regulation' and introduction of alternative evaluations based on medical necessity
We opposed the uniform tightening of regulations that 'restrict payments when the ratio of visits to specific facilities is 70-80% or more', and called for a mechanism to appropriately evaluate 'true medical necessity', such as records of collaboration with physicians.
3. Elimination of unfair referral fees and clear separation of legitimate 'administrative outsourcing fees'
While agreeing with the elimination of inappropriate kickbacks, we requested the formulation of clear guidelines that recognize compensation for legitimate administrative burdens, such as coordination, occurring on the facility side.
4. Participation of 'field operators and patient representatives' in revision discussions
Rather than one-sided medical cost reduction arguments by experts who do not understand the reality of visiting acupuncture and massage, we demanded the restructuring of the discussion forum to be grounded in reality by appropriately including operators actually working in the field and patient representatives in the Acupuncture and Massage Medical Fee Review Committee.
■ Karada Genki Chiryoin's Resolution (Leading industry reform and normalization)
Karada Genki Chiryoin Co., Ltd. will fulfill its responsibility as a nationwide chain and set an example by eliminating inappropriate cases and improving transparency. We will transform discussions from mere cost reduction to discussions for the 'true value' of allowing citizens to continue home life with peace of mind, strongly leading the sound development of the visiting acupuncture and massage industry.
Japan Medical Care Insurance Association
Chairman and President: Shuichi Hayashi
Japan Nursing Care Business Association
Chairman: Jiro Aichi
[Company Profile]
Company Name: Karada Genki Chiryoin Co., Ltd.
Representative: Representative Director Shuichi Hayashi
Location: 2-30-12-6F Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Business: Visiting acupuncture and massage business for the elderly and physically challenged (nationwide expansion)
URL: https://www.karada-genki.com/
[Inquiries regarding this matter]
Organization: Japan Medical Care Insurance Association
Contact: Takahashi
TEL: 03-6903-0960