view on special news - mymembership
TRANSCRIPT
HEALTHMANPRIVATEPRACTICEREVIEWMarch2018
March2018Asummaryofbreakingnewsandgeneralinformationregardinghealthcareinthepublicandprivatesector,publishedinthemedia.
Contents1. FoodforThought2. ViewonSpecialNews3. ViewonGovernment4. FinancialViews5. ViewonMedicalSchemes6. SpecialNotices
FoodforThought
Callforfoodsafetylawreview
OfficialsintheDepartmentofHealth(DoH)arepushingforareviewofthekeylawsgoverningfoodsafety,afteralisteriaoutbreakexposedshortcomingsintheirpowerstoobtainpotentiallylifesavinginformationfromcompaniesandprivatelaboratories–BusinessDay;7March2018.
Morethanathousandlaboratory-confirmedcasesand183deathshavebeenrecordedfromJanuary2017toMarch2018.TheNationalInstituteforCommunicableDiseaseseventuallytracedthestrainofListeriamonocytogenesresponsiblefor90%ofthecasestopolonymadeinTigerBrands’EnterpriseFoodsfactoryinPolokwane.PolonyproductscontainingadifferentstrainofthedeadlybacteriawerealsotracedtoEnterpriseFoodsGermistonfactoryandtoRCLFoodsSasolburg’sprocessingplant.
TheDoH’sdirectoroffoodcontrol,PennyCampbell,saidthedepartmenthadrepeatedlywrittentoprivatelaboratoriesandfoodindustryassociationsrequestinginformationtohelptracethesourceoftheoutbreakbuthadbeenlargelyignored.NoneofthekeyplayersfromtheSAMeatProcessors’Associationwereco-operative,andonly23ofthe83membersoftheConsumerGoodsCouncilprovidedalistoflisteria-contaminatedfood.TheNationalLaboratoryAssociationdidnotrespondtotheircallforassistance.
ViewonSpecialNews
2017/18TariffInflatorUpdate
InsightActuaries&Consultantscompileda2017/18tariffinflatorupdateaddressedtotheSouthAfricanPrivatePractitionersForum(SAPPF)topresentinformationontariffincreasesformedicalprofessionals(GPs,specialistsandalliedprofessionals).
AlltheoptionsbasedonusingtheCPIindexasaproxyfortariffinflationhavebeenshowntobewhollyorpartiallyinappropriate.
Consequently,aviableoptionistocreateapriceindexfromfirstprinciples.
Theproposedstructureoftheinflatorreflectstheperspectivesofboththeprovidersandfunders.
Theinput-costinf lationf igurefor2017/18iscalculatedtobe5.14%.Thisismadeupof anincreaseof3.2%forequipment-intensivedisciplines,5.8%forblended
disciplinesand6.5%forlabour-intensivedisciplines.
Theaffordabilityconstraintiscalculatedasthedifferencebetweensalaryinflationof7.8%andanutilisationadjustmentof2%(i.e.5.8%).Wereahigherutilisationadjustmentof3.5%tobeusedtheaffordabilityconstraintwouldbe4.3%.(ForcomparativepurposestheJulytoJulyincreaseinCPIis4.6%)
1. Inputcostinf latorforEquipmentIntensiveDisciplines:3,19%(e.g.radiologists,radiographers,radiotherapistsandpathologists).
2. Inputcostinf latorforBlendedDisciplinesamountsto5,77%(e.g.gynaecologists,oncologists,neurosurgeons,surgeons,dentistsorthotistsandemergencydoctors).
3. Inputcostinf latorforLabourIntensiveDisciplinesis6,51%(e.gchiropractors,anaesthetists,generalpractitioners,dermatologists,psychotherapists,dieticiansandregisterednurses).
Formoreinfovisit,theHealthManWebsite(News)
Reminderregardingannualfees
Theannualfeefor2018/19HealthProfession'sCouncilofSouthAfrica's(HPCSA)ispayablebeforeoron1April2018bypersonsregisteredintermsoftheHealthProfessionsAct1974(ActNo.56of1974).
PractitionersareencouragedtousetheOnlineRenewalPortaltorenewfeesonline.Practitionersshouldalsobearinmindthatpaymentsonandafter2April2018willbesubjecttotheincreasedVATof15%.Short-ornon-paymentoffeesmayresultinthescrappingofapractitioner'sHPCSAmembership.
ShouldyouencounterchallengesusingtheportalpleasecontacttheCallCentreon0123389300/1or
Emailthemthescreenshotof [email protected].
Whenapatientchoosestocometoyourpractice,theyareevaluatingit,notonlyontheserviceprovidedbythedoctorbutalsobytheefficiencyoftheadminprocessandtheoverallexperience.Thereareanumberofoptionsavailabletoyoutomanagethepracticeinsuchawaythatthere’sasubstantialamountofprofit,aswellashappypatients.
So,howdoesonefindthisbalance?Wesharetheultimatecheatsheettoensureyoucoverallthebases.
Formoredataprotectiontips,clickonthebuttonbelow.
Button
NineGreatReasonswhyMedicalPractitionerspartnerwithFinanceManagementExperts
MFIisamultifacetedfinancialinstitutionthatoffersmanyareasoffinancialmanagementexpertise–theprimaryonebeingthefinancialmanagementofthemedicalprofession.
InapreviousarticleonwhyMedicalPractitionersneedspecialistfinancialservices,wepointedoutthatMedicalPractitionershaveveryspecificrequirementswithregardstotheirfinancing.
InthisarticlewedrillintoafewoftheservicesweoffertoensurewecanfulfilapartnershipmandatefromourMedicalPractitionerclients.
Clickonthebuttonbelowtoreadthe9greatreasonsmedicalpractitionerspartnerwithf inancemanagementexperts.
Orfollowusonfacebook.com/MFIMedicalBusiness/mf i@mf i.co.za
Button
Multilateraltariffnegotiationsessentialtoreplaceflawedinsuredfee-for-serviceprocesses
Tariffnegotiationsbetweenfunders,hospitalsandprovidersbasedonpriceonlywithnoquidproquoondemandandnoquidproquoonqualityinaninsuredfee-for-service(FFS)environmentisafundamentalprobleminSouthAfrica’sprivatehealthcaresystem.
“TheproblemwithFFSisthat,whencombinedwithinsurance,itkillstherelationshipbetweenpriceanddemandfortheconsumer,”ProfAlexvandenHeever,well-knownhealthcareeconomist,nowChairinthefieldofSocialSecurityWitsSchoolofGovernance,toldInstituteofHealthRiskManagers(IHRM)seminardelegatesinJohannesburgonFriday(2March).
Speakinginhispersonalcapacity,VandenHeeverbasedhisaddresson“realities”hebroughttotheattentionoftheCompetitionCommission’sHealthMarketInquiry(HMI)panelinapresentationtowardstheendoflastyear.
Toreadmore,clickonthebuttonbeloworgoto:http://medbriefaf rica.co.za/todownloadtheMedBrief Af ricaApponyourphone.DoctorswhohavealreadydownloadedtheMedBrief Af ricaAppcan
accessthearticleontheirphones.
Button
ViewonGovernment
'LifeEsidimeni'conditionsinEasternCape?
FollowingcomplaintsaboutconditionsattheTowerPsychiatricHospital,FortBeaufort,EasternCapetheSASocietyofPsychiatrists(SASOP)andotheradvocacyrepresentativesaredraftingareportonthefindingsafteravisittothehospital.Inaddition,aninvestigativetaskteamhasbeen
appointedbytheEasternCapeDoHwhiletherelevantMentalHealthReviewBoardwillalsoberequestedtoinvestigatethematter.
SASOPwillawaitthefindingsofthetaskteamtodetermineanyfurtheractionthatmayberequired.
LifeEsidimeni
MeanwhileGautengpremierDavidMakhurawillappointanindependentcuratortoensurethatallthedecisionsofretireddeputychiefjusticeDikgangMosenekeontheinquiryintotheLifeEsidimenitragedyareimplemented.
RAF,Medschememarriageunderthespotlight
ParliamenttogettoughoncorruptioninGupta-scandal
OnMarch9,Mail&Guardianreportedthatamultimillion-randcontractbetweenMedschemeandtheRoadAccidentFund(RAF)isatthecentreofaninvestigationafterawhistle-blowerallegedclosepersonaltiesbetweenofficialsofbothentities.
ApparentlyMedschemewasawardeditspartofacontractthathasseenthecompanypocketingmorethanR130-mforcompletinglessthan50%ofthecasesitwasgiven.
*MeanwhileTreasuryofficialsdefendedthebudget’sextracontributiontotheRAF,sayingitisnecessarytohelpaddressthe"massivedeficit"inthefund.Ofthe52calitreincreaseinthefuelleviesannouncedinthe2018-19budget,30cwillgotowardstheRAFtostabiliseshort-termliabilitiesataboutR8.5-bnperyear.
ThechairpersonofParliament'sportfoliocommitteeonhealthhasvowedthatthecommitteewillnotletcorruptiontakeholdinthehealthsector.
ThisafteritemergedthattheNorthWesthealthdepartmentspendsmillionseachmonthonprivateambulancesandthataGupta-linkedcompanyisprovidingmobileclinicsintheNorthWest.
ExacerbatingthematterwerereportsthattheFreeStatehealthdepartmentpaidaGupta-linkedcompanymillionstoprovidemobileclinicservices.
*OnMarch11,SundayIndependentreportedthatDrThaboLekalakala,theHODofHealthintheNorthWesthasallegationslevelledagainsthimforusingaconditionalHIVgrantofmorethanR50-mtopayanambulancefirm.
Newsflashes
Foreign-traineddoctorsf rustratedTheHPCSAhasfromlastmonthbeeninsistingthatSAgraduatesdointernshipsinthecountrywheretheystudiedbeforewritingtheirmedicalboardexamshere.Theaffecteddoctorshavealsobeenaskedtoprovide“anoriginalcertificateofgoodstanding,notmorethansixmonthsold,issuedbytheforeignregistrationauthoritywheretheapplicantisorwasregistered”.
Gautenghealthisbleedingthef iscusTheGautengtreasurytabledaR121-bnbudgetfortheprovince.Thehealthdepartmentreceivedthelion’sshareatR46.4-bn-upfromR41.9-bninthepreviousfinancialyear.MorethanR5-bnofthehealthbudgetwillbedirectedtopayoffaccrualsaccumulatedovertheyears.KZNhealthallegedlywastedmillionsonvehiclesTheKwaZulu-Natallegislature’shealthportfoliocommitteesaysithasmade“astonishingdiscoveries”ofirregularexpenditurerelatedtomobileclinics,includingathree-year,R52.5-mlease.
FinancialViews
LifestyleTaxestogeneraterevenueforTreasury
AdvancedHealthBEE
Theintroductionofataxonsugarydrinks(effectivefrom1April)isexpectedtogeneratearoundR2-bnintaxrevenue.NationalTreasurysaidinthe2018BudgetReviewapolicybriefontheuseoftaxestoencourage“healthychoices”willbepublishedshortly.
JeromeBrink,seniorassociateinClif feDekkerHofmeyr ’sTaxandExchangeControlpractice,saidtohisknowledgestudiesareinconclusiveinrespectofthecausationbetweentheimpositionofthesugartaxandareductionofnon-communicablediseasessuchasdiabetes.GabrielEksteen,healthpromotionof f icerattheSAHeartandStrokeFoundation,warnedthatsugarwasnottheonlycauseofobesity.Hesaidinadditiontoeducatingconsumers,thefoodindustryneedstoprovidehealthierfoodoptions.HealthMinisterAaronMotsoalediisexpectedtoannouncenewmeasuresagainstsmoking,includingabanonsmokinginallpublicplaces,plaincigarettepackagesandgorypictorialhealthwarningsonpacks.ThisfollowstherecentWorldConferenceonTobaccoorHealthinCapeTownwheremorethan2000tobaccocontrolexpertsfrom100countriesgathered.
DaysurgerygroupAdvancedHealthislookingforblackeconomicempowerment(BEE)partners,asitseekstobolsteritschancesofdoingbusinesswiththegovernment.
Onpaper,Advanced’sday-hospitalmodellooksahealthyalternativetothe(largely)defaultprivatehospitaloffering.ThelocaloperationsgeneratedatoplineofR53-m-butpostedaheftylossofR22.3-m.
Advanced’snetworkofdayhospitalsgrewfromjust826inthefirstquarterofthe2016financialyearto3264inthefirstquarterofthe2018financialyear.
ViewonMedicalSchemesAnnualmedicalschemeclaimsexpenditureroseonaverageby11.3%ayearoverthepastdecade,farfasterthanconsumerpriceinflation,whichincreasedonaveragebyjust6.1%,accordingtoDiscoveryHealthMedicalScheme(DHMS)data.Thedata,packagedastheDiscoveryHealthMedicalInf lationTracker,unpackstheextenttowhichtheannualincreaseinmedicalschemeclaimshasbeendrivenbychangesinthepriceofhealthcareservices.
Between2008and2017,thetariffschargedbyhealthcareproviderssuchasdoctorsandhospitalscloselytrackedmovesintheconsumerpriceindex(CPI).Tariffsroseonaverageby0.5%aboveCPIduringthisperiod,at6.6%.Theuseofservicesrose4.7%ayearbecauseofincreaseddemandforservicesfromanageingmedicalschemepopulation,increaseintheburdenofchronicdisease,changestoclinicalpracticeandnewtechnologies,drugsandhospitals.
BothDHMSandtheGovernmentEmployees’MedicalSchemeexperiencedasharpriseinhospitaladmissionsin2015-16.ThefinancialimpactoftheVATincreasewillextendtomedicalsavingsaccounts(MSA)andout-of-pocketexpenditure,wherebymemberscanbeexpectedtodepletetheirMSAbalancesmuchfaster.
Circulars:CouncilforMedicalSchemes
ThefollowingCircularswerepublishedbytheCMSinMarch2018.Visit www.medicalschemes.co.zaformoreinfo.
9of2018RequestforHIV,TBandSTIdatafortheSANationalAidsCouncil(SANAC)
10of2018AuditorAuthorisationsandApprovals11of2018HealthcareUtilisationAnnualStatutoryReturnforthefinancialyearending31December2017
12of2018PrescribedISAE3000(Revised)AuditorReporttemplate
13of2018AnnualStatutoryReturnsforthefinancialyearended31December201714of2018Administratorworkshop2018Confirmationofthedate&circulationoftheAgenda
15of2018SchemesnotificationforconductingSchemeMeetingsandElections
SpecialNoticesPrivateSalePlettenbergBayWhaleRockHeights.337squaremetersinagatedestate.Plans,waterconnection,engineeredretaining&boundarywallsbuilt.BargainatR380000.Phone:0748016129Email:[email protected],IpledgeR10000tothePMGforallowingexposuretotheirmembership.R5000isalsopledgedtothePLETTBITOUFIREVICTIMSDISASTERRELIEFFUND.
Toadvertise,contactMarethaConradie:[email protected]
HealthViewandPrivatePracticeReviewprovidenewsandopinionarticlesasaservicetoour
memberstoenhancetheirunderstandingofthehealthcareindustry.Theinformationcontainedin
thesepublicationsispublishedwithoutwarrantiesofanykind,eitherexpressorimplied.HealthView
andPrivatePracticeReviewarepublishedsolelyforinformationalpurposesandshouldnottobe
construedasadviceorrecommendations.Individualsshouldtakeintoaccounttheirownuniqueand
specificcircumstancesinactingonanynewsorarticlespublished.Oftenthesearticlesoriginatefrom
sourcesoutsideourorganizationthatarereportedinthenationalpress.Consequently,any
information,trademarks,servicemarks,productnamesornamedfeaturesareassumedtobethe
propertyoftheirrespectiveowners,andareusedsolelyforinformativepurposesinourpublications.
Thereisfurthermorenoimpliedendorsementofanyoftheproducts,goodsorservicesmentionedin
ourpublications.