Humano medical insurance suspended
The Dominican Medical Guild (CMD) together with the Board of the Specialized Medical Societies (Conasomep) and the National Association of Private Clinics (Andeclip) have announced the suspension of consultations and elective procedures for those patients holding ARS Humano medical insurance. There has been no announcement as to the length of time this suspension will last. The boycott is to start on Wednesday, 1 May 2019 when only emergencies and those patients in intensive care will be able to claim under their insurance with Humano.
The announcement comes as the organizations say they will step up actions in favor of increases in the fees and tariffs for their services. The intention is to extend the boycott to the other around 20 medical insurance providers authorized in the Dominican Republic. CMD president Wilson Roa said that the physicians cannot take it anymore and that according to the CMD regulations they had no choice but to take corrective and disciplinary measures. Roa says that the ARS Humano has not complied with agreements that had been signed in 2017, as reported by Diario Libre.
ARS Humano is the country’s leading private medical insurance plan with around 33% of the medical insurance plan market, serving around 2.5 million people.
The other leading medical plans are Palic Salud, Universal and the governmental Senasa that covers those on the subsidized regime.
The Colegio Médico Dominicano, Consejo de Sociedades Médicas Especilizadas and the Asociación de Clínicas y Hospitales Privados say medical services fees have stagnated despite Social Security Law 87-01 ordering revisions every three years. Adjustments have mostly affected the difference patients pay that can range from RD$250 to RD$1,100 depending on the clinic and the plan. In most cases, the difference is more than they are paid by the medical plan companies.
The medical organizations also demand that patients maintain free choice in medical services, and that primary care begin with the subsidized regime. The insurance scheme has proven to be highly profitable for the medical plan operators. ARS Humano recently inaugurated a large office building on Av.. John F. Kennedy.
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
May 5, 2019
Category: DR News |