Changes in Nurses' Work Styles Due to Medical Fee Revision: Will it Break or Transform the Front Lines? The Order of Introduction Will Decide.

The Japan Male Nurses Association (JMNA), a non-profit organization by and for nurses (Location: Tokyo, Representative Director: Kosuke Tsubota, hereinafter referred to as "the Association"), will co-host an introductory support webinar with OPERe Inc. (Headquarters: Tokyo, Minato-ku, Representative Director CEO: Yuka Sawada), which operates the patient communication DX system "Poke-Sapo." The webinar addresses the relaxation of the placement standards (1.3x conversion) for the newly established Physician Administrative Work Assistance System Fee in the Reiwa 8th (2026) Medical Fee Revision.

To qualify for this relaxed measure, the utilization of more than 10 types of patient explanation videos is a prerequisite. However, simply preparing videos and ensuring nurses can effectively use them are entirely different matters. Before explaining to patients via video, have you shared the content with nurses? Have you designed the operation? Reforms introduced without explaining them to the front lines are, in fact, detrimental changes.

Upholding the philosophy of "Nursing for Nurses," the Association aims to empower nurses to embrace change through solid implementation steps, rather than being swayed by the system. Representative Director Tsubota will provide insights from a frontline perspective.

■ Background: Simply having videos for the 1.3x conversion will not move the front lines.

In the Reiwa 8th (2026) Medical Fee Revision, a new measure was introduced for the Physician Administrative Work Assistance System Fee, allowing one physician's administrative assistant to be counted as "1.3 people" in staffing numbers if more than 10 types of patient explanation videos are utilized.

While this additional fee is attractive from a hospital management perspective, the Association is concerned about its implementation process. The introduction of videos will undoubtedly change how nurses work. Nevertheless, there are currently cases across the country where the preparation of videos and the calculation of the fee are prioritized, while explanations to nurses and the design of frontline operations are deferred.

Retention will not be achieved in environments where the front lines suddenly feel that "the way we work has changed." The turning point for whether this revision becomes a "reform" or a "detrimental change" lies in a steady implementation process: nurses understanding the video content, designing patient guidance flows themselves, and using data for improvement.

■ Webinar Outline

Title: [Breaking News & Commentary] Deciphering the "10 Types of Patient Explanation Videos" Requirement in the Reiwa 8th Medical Fee Revision

Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (Zoom Live Broadcast)

Speakers:

Kosuke Tsubota (Representative Director, Japan Male Nurses Association / Nurse & Policy Secretary to a Member of Parliament)

Jinya Hojo (Senior Manager, Sales Team, OPERe Inc.)

Target Audience: Those working in medical institutions

Participation Fee: Free

Application:https://www.opere.jp/documents/poke-sup-webinar_12

■ Webinar Content

In the first half, led by Mr. Tsubota, the following will be covered:

The overall vision of "Medical DX and Nurses' Work Styles" aimed for by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Reiwa 8th (2026)

The correct interpretation of the Physician Administrative Work Assistance System Fee's 1.3x conversion

Reasons why "simply preparing videos" will not function effectively and the three pitfalls the front lines tend to fall into

Three steps for implementation preparation where nurses play a leading role (in-hospital sharing, operation design, data utilization)

In the latter half, OPERe Inc. will introduce the specific content of the "10 Types of Patient Explanation Video Pack" utilizing the patient communication system "Poke-Sapo."

■ About the Association

Since its establishment in September 2014, the Japan Male Nurses Association has advocated "Nursing for Nurses" and is committed to creating an environment where nurses can continue to work proactively. We continue to advocate for the voices of frontline nurses in various fields such as nursing DX, customer harassment countermeasures, industrial nursing, home-visit nursing, and remote nursing, influencing policy, systems, and industry.

Representative Director Kosuke Tsubota holds both nurse qualifications and policy secretary qualifications for a member of parliament, offering proposals from both medical policy and frontline nursing perspectives.

■ Japan Male Nurses Association and Nursing DX Award

In addition to supporting nursing DX promotion, our association hosts the "Nursing DX Award" to recognize innovation on the front lines. In its first iteration held at Tokyo Big Sight in 2025, projects leading the industry gathered, with Innosia Inc., a Mitsui & Co. Group company, receiving the Grand Prize. Through both "quality assurance" by these guidelines and "technological innovation" by the award, we will promote the improvement of nurses' social status and the construction of next-generation infrastructure.

Nursing DX Award 2026 Application:https://forms.gle/PNnv24wsSWwp1z7J8

■ Recruiting Members: Japan Male Nurses Association

The Association is currently recruiting new members. We welcome nurses and healthcare professionals who wish to think and act together for the future of nursing in areas such as nursing DX, home-visit nursing, customer harassment countermeasures, and industrial nursing. Membership and annual fees are free.

Join and learn more here:https://gkb.jp/s/jmns/application

■ About OPERe Inc.

Company Name: OPERe Inc. Location: 606 Frohnthou Mita, 2-14-5 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0073 Representative: Yuka Sawada, Representative Director CEO Established: June 2020 Business Activities: Development and provision of digital communication methods for patients and medical professionals URL:https://www.opere.jp/

■ Inquiries regarding this matter

Public Relations Department, Japan Male Nurses Association