2026-08-16 14:59 China Policy & Regulation Standards Translated from ZH

BCI Pricing in Eleven Chinese Jurisdictions: Implantation RMB 4,389-7,980, Insurance Coverage in Two

Summary Eleven Chinese provincial-level jurisdictions had published prices for brain-computer interface medical services. The invasive implantation fee runs from RMB 4,389 at the lowest hospital tier in Sichuan to RMB 7,980 in Beijing (approx. $650 to $1,180 at RMB 6.74 to the dollar, the mid-August 2026 rate), and the non-invasive fitting fee from RMB 643 to 990. Sichuan, Hainan, Qinghai and Xinjiang tier prices by hospital grade, Shanghai leaves the amount to each hospital, and Jiangsu's three figures appear only in a July 2025 draft. Beijing lists all three fees as Class A at four named hospitals; Zhejiang covers the fitting fee as Class B, limited to prosthetic fitting. Sichuan, Jiangxi, Hainan, Qinghai and Xinjiang assign Class C, Shanghai excludes the fees, and Hubei and Guangdong have prices without a coverage decision.

Why it matters Pricing, itemized billing and reimbursement from the insurance fund are three separate steps; pricing establishes only that a hospital may bill.

BCIwiki (bciwiki.com) — As of April 2026, eleven of China’s 31 provincial-level jurisdictions had published prices for brain-computer interface medical services. The invasive implantation fee runs from RMB 4,389 at the lowest hospital tier in Sichuan to RMB 7,980 in Beijing. The National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) stated on 16 April 2026 that invasive implantation fees cluster between RMB 6,000 and 6,600 and non-invasive fitting fees around RMB 960. All amounts here are in Chinese yuan; at RMB 6.74 to the US dollar, the mid-August 2026 rate, that range is roughly $650 to $1,180.All three fees trace to the Trial Guideline on Price Item Listing for Neurological Medical Services, circulated by the NHSA in March 2025 under Yi Bao Jia Cai Han [2025] No. 78. No invasive BCI product had regulatory approval in China at the time.In the Wuhan operation of November 2025, the first in China billed at a government-guided price, the NHSA’s own account records that the cost was carried by the research budget, so even the RMB 6,552 patient charge never materialized.Neuracle’s implantable BCI system for hand motor compensation was approved on 22 March 2026, and an insurance code followed two days later. The guideline defines a child as six years of age or younger and leaves the pediatric surcharge rate to each jurisdiction.

Prices and payment status by jurisdiction, counting provincial, autonomous-region and municipal schedules only:

Jurisdiction	Invasive implantation	Invasive explantation	Non-invasive fitting	Pediatric surcharge	Payment status
Beijing	RMB 7,980	RMB 3,500	RMB 990 first session, RMB 330 thereafter	30%	All three Class A, four hospitals only
Zhejiang	RMB 6,580	RMB 3,150	RMB 960	30%	Fitting fee Class B, 10% co-payment, prosthetic fitting only
Hubei	RMB 6,552	RMB 3,139	RMB 966	20%	Priced, no coverage
Jiangsu	RMB 6,600	RMB 3,200	RMB 966	30%	No final schedule; figures appear only in a July 2025 draft
Guangdong	RMB 6,600 ceiling	RMB 3,200 ceiling	RMB 966 ceiling	Set by each city, no provincial standard	Priced, no coverage
Sichuan	RMB 6,583 / 6,035 / 5,486 / 4,937 / 4,389 by hospital grade	RMB 3,173 / 2,908 / 2,644 / 2,380 / 2,115	RMB 965 / 884 / 804 / 724 / 643	20%	All three Class C, self-pay
Shanghai	Set by each hospital	Set by each hospital	Set by each hospital	No price, no surcharge	Explicitly excluded
Jiangxi	RMB 6,500	RMB 3,100	RMB 960	RMB 1,950 implantation, RMB 930 explantation, equal to 30%	Self-pay
Hainan	RMB 6,500 / 6,175 / 5,850 by hospital grade	RMB 3,100 / 2,945 / 2,790	RMB 960 / 912 / 864	RMB 1,950 / 1,852 / 1,755 implantation (30%), RMB 465 / 441 / 418 explantation (15%)	Class C, self-pay
Qinghai	RMB 6,500 / 5,525 / 4,696 by hospital grade	RMB 3,100 / 2,635 / 2,239	RMB 960 / 816 / 693	Fixed amounts, RMB 1,950 / 1,657 / 1,408 implantation, RMB 930 / 790 / 671 explantation	Class C, self-pay
Xinjiang	RMB 6,000 / 5,400 / 4,860 by hospital grade	RMB 3,000 / 2,700 / 2,430	RMB 900 / 810 / 729	30% throughout, RMB 1,800 / 1,620 / 1,458 implantation, RMB 900 / 810 / 729 explantation	Class C, self-pay