End-to-End Support for Foreign Patients from Reception to Payment [Japan's First]
Netstars and VoxAI Japan (to be renamed Daisybell Japan) have partnered with JIMCA to jointly develop Japan's first integrated solution for foreign patients, covering everything from reception to payment. This system leverages autonomous AI agents for 24/7 multilingual support and a pre-payment authorization feature to secure medical expenses, aiming to significantly reduce the workload on medical staff and address the growing issue of unpaid medical bills. The solution is designed to create a safe and sustainable medical care system for all stakeholders, including medical institutions, professionals, and patients, by streamlining the entire process for both medical inbound patients and foreign residents seeking urgent care.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 10:15
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 16, 2026 at 21:19 (371h 4m after Collected)
Netstars Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Li Gang; hereinafter "Netstars") and VoxAI Japan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Gao Qian; hereinafter "VoxAI" *scheduled to change company name to Daisybell Japan Co., Ltd.) have agreed to jointly develop and have commenced work on an integrated solution that provides end-to-end support for foreign patients "from reception to payment," a first in Japan (*), with the cooperation of the Japan International Medical Coordination Association (JIMCA) (Location: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative: Noriko Yamada; hereinafter "JIMCA"). This solution aims to significantly reduce the workload of medical professionals and resolve the increasingly serious problem of unpaid medical bills by combining 24/7 multilingual reception services by autonomous AI agents with a pre-payment (authorization) function that secures credit for medical expenses before treatment. It is designed to cover not only medical inbound patients but also foreign patients who suddenly seek medical attention during their stay in Japan, from pre-visit support to post-treatment settlement, thereby contributing to the establishment of a safe and sustainable medical care system for medical institutions, medical professionals, and patients alike.
(*) As a SaaS-type system in Japan that integrates AI multilingual automated response and authorization payment to prevent unpaid medical bills (according to their own research).
■ Background: Rapidly Increasing Foreign Patients and the 1.3 Billion Yen Unpaid Medical Bill Issue
With the increase in foreign visitors to Japan and medical inbound tourism, establishing a system for accepting foreign patients at medical institutions has become an urgent issue. According to a survey by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (FY2024), the total amount of unpaid medical bills from foreign patients at hospitals that responded to the survey amounted to approximately 1.3 billion yen. The impact on management is becoming serious, especially for foreign visitors hospitalized, where the average amount per case exceeds 3 million yen.
Furthermore, from April 2026, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's "Unpaid Information Reporting System" will significantly lower its reporting threshold from the previous "200,000 yen or more" to "10,000 yen or more," indicating that the administration is also demanding stricter management of unpaid bills. There is also a demand for medical institutions to build a system that allows them to proactively handle foreign patients, whereas previously they had to rely on travel medical support companies.
■ Main Features of This System
This system covers foreign patients from pre-visit support to post-treatment settlement, digitalizing medical institutions' reception and accounting operations end-to-end. By providing the following functions as a one-stop service, it simultaneously reduces the burden on staff and eliminates the risk of unpaid medical bills.
1. Multilingual Phone and Reception Support by AI Agent
Instead of mere voice guidance, an "AI agent" that operates autonomously to achieve specific business goals provides initial support for foreign patients via phone and web.
・24/7 Multilingual Support: Supports major languages including Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean, enabling smooth communication even when staff are absent or during night hours.
・Visualization and Sharing of Conversation Content: Interview content is immediately summarized and digitized in Japanese, and can be checked in real-time on the management screen.
2. Reduction of Unpaid Medical Bill Risk through Medical Deposit (Pre-authorization)
This system optimizes the "authorization (securing a credit limit)" mechanism, commonly used in accommodations, for medical institutions and offers it as a measure against unpaid medical bills.
・Securing Credit Before Treatment: By temporarily holding the estimated medical expenses on a credit card before treatment, it suppresses the risk of unpaid bills from foreign visitors who are difficult to pursue for payment after returning to their home countries.
・Smooth Settlement Process: After treatment, sales are finalized based on the confirmed amount, and if there is a difference from the temporarily held amount, the difference is automatically refunded (credit release).
■ Expected Effects
By introducing this solution, both the operational burden and management risks associated with handling foreign patients for medical institutions will be reduced, and the following effects are expected for each stakeholder:
・Medical Institutions: In addition to reducing the cost of multilingual phone and reception support, it can suppress the risk of unpaid bills for high-cost self-pay medical treatments in advance.
・Medical Staff: The burden of dealing with language barriers and accounting troubles is reduced, creating an environment where they can concentrate on their primary duties, such as medical procedures and patient care.
・Patients: Provides the peace of mind of being able to consult in multiple languages 24 hours a day, and a smooth, transparent cashless settlement experience.
■ Future Outlook
This system is scheduled for pilot implementation at national university hospitals and private general hospitals from May 2026. By combining Netstars' payment and financial infrastructure, VoxAI Japan's AI voice and dialogue technology, and JIMCA's expertise in medical and foreign patient support, we aim to implement a highly effective solution tailored to the practical needs of medical settings.
Through the provision of this solution, we will contribute to the establishment of a sustainable medical care system in Japan as an international city.
(*) As a SaaS-type system in Japan that integrates AI multilingual automated response and authorization payment to prevent unpaid medical bills (according to their own research).
■ Background: Rapidly Increasing Foreign Patients and the 1.3 Billion Yen Unpaid Medical Bill Issue
With the increase in foreign visitors to Japan and medical inbound tourism, establishing a system for accepting foreign patients at medical institutions has become an urgent issue. According to a survey by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (FY2024), the total amount of unpaid medical bills from foreign patients at hospitals that responded to the survey amounted to approximately 1.3 billion yen. The impact on management is becoming serious, especially for foreign visitors hospitalized, where the average amount per case exceeds 3 million yen.
Furthermore, from April 2026, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's "Unpaid Information Reporting System" will significantly lower its reporting threshold from the previous "200,000 yen or more" to "10,000 yen or more," indicating that the administration is also demanding stricter management of unpaid bills. There is also a demand for medical institutions to build a system that allows them to proactively handle foreign patients, whereas previously they had to rely on travel medical support companies.
■ Main Features of This System
This system covers foreign patients from pre-visit support to post-treatment settlement, digitalizing medical institutions' reception and accounting operations end-to-end. By providing the following functions as a one-stop service, it simultaneously reduces the burden on staff and eliminates the risk of unpaid medical bills.
1. Multilingual Phone and Reception Support by AI Agent
Instead of mere voice guidance, an "AI agent" that operates autonomously to achieve specific business goals provides initial support for foreign patients via phone and web.
・24/7 Multilingual Support: Supports major languages including Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean, enabling smooth communication even when staff are absent or during night hours.
・Visualization and Sharing of Conversation Content: Interview content is immediately summarized and digitized in Japanese, and can be checked in real-time on the management screen.
2. Reduction of Unpaid Medical Bill Risk through Medical Deposit (Pre-authorization)
This system optimizes the "authorization (securing a credit limit)" mechanism, commonly used in accommodations, for medical institutions and offers it as a measure against unpaid medical bills.
・Securing Credit Before Treatment: By temporarily holding the estimated medical expenses on a credit card before treatment, it suppresses the risk of unpaid bills from foreign visitors who are difficult to pursue for payment after returning to their home countries.
・Smooth Settlement Process: After treatment, sales are finalized based on the confirmed amount, and if there is a difference from the temporarily held amount, the difference is automatically refunded (credit release).
■ Expected Effects
By introducing this solution, both the operational burden and management risks associated with handling foreign patients for medical institutions will be reduced, and the following effects are expected for each stakeholder:
・Medical Institutions: In addition to reducing the cost of multilingual phone and reception support, it can suppress the risk of unpaid bills for high-cost self-pay medical treatments in advance.
・Medical Staff: The burden of dealing with language barriers and accounting troubles is reduced, creating an environment where they can concentrate on their primary duties, such as medical procedures and patient care.
・Patients: Provides the peace of mind of being able to consult in multiple languages 24 hours a day, and a smooth, transparent cashless settlement experience.
■ Future Outlook
This system is scheduled for pilot implementation at national university hospitals and private general hospitals from May 2026. By combining Netstars' payment and financial infrastructure, VoxAI Japan's AI voice and dialogue technology, and JIMCA's expertise in medical and foreign patient support, we aim to implement a highly effective solution tailored to the practical needs of medical settings.
Through the provision of this solution, we will contribute to the establishment of a sustainable medical care system in Japan as an international city.