July 2014
CERTIFICATE OF NEED
After consultation with affected stakeholders and pressure imposed by various provider groups, the Director-General of Health has announced that the proclamation enacting the sections of the National Health Act related to certificates of need would be withdrawn. The Director-General advised, however, that the process relating to the preparation of relevant Regulations would continue. It was therefore likely that these sections would again be implemented once the Regulations were in place.
IMPACT ON GENERAL PRACTITIONERS, RADIOLOGISTS AND DENTISTS
For noting.
SINGLE EXIT PRICE (SEP)
The Minister of Health has advised that not all stakeholders were satisfied with the extent to which medicine prices have been adjusted annually. However, he had to ensure that price adjustments took account of the availability, affordability and quality of medicines. The Minister would therefore like to review the use of the current formula as a reference guide for making a recommendation on the determination of the extent to which medicine prices could be adjusted on an annual basis. Interested parties were invited to provide comments on alternative methodologies for adjusting medicine prices for 2015 in the following areas:
- The feasibility of establishing a single exit price (SEP) inflator for fully imported generic products, locally produced generic products and originator medicines; and
- The formula used as a reference guide in making a recommendation in respect of the extent to which medicine prices might be adjusted on an annual basis.
IMPACT ON GENERAL PRACTITIONERS, RADIOLOGISTS AND DENTISTS
For noting.
DEMARCATION REGULATIONS
National Treasury has advised that the comment date for the draft Demarcation Regulations has been extended to 31 July 2014. It has also published a list of frequently asked questions and answers pertaining to the draft Regulations. It was stated that the envisaged finalisation date for the draft Demarcation. Regulations was October 2014.
IMPACT ON GENERAL PRACTITIONERS, RADIOLOGISTS AND DENTISTS
Gap cover products might no longer be a reliable source of remuneration for services rendered by practitioners, should these Regulations become law.
ROAD ACCIDENT BENEFIT SCHEME BILL
The Department of Transport and the Board of the Road Accident Fund have extended the comment period in respect of the Road Accident Benefit Scheme Bill, the draft Regulations and draft Rules for a further 90 days from 8 July 2014.
IMPACT ON GENERAL PRACTITIONERS, RADIOLOGISTS AND DENTISTS
Practitioners might need to consider becoming preferred providers to the Road Accident Benefit Scheme Administrator (RABSA) once this Bill was passed into law to ensure that they were still able to treat patients injured in road accidents. Treatment might be regulated in terms of protocols and fees payable for health care services were likely to be restricted.
HPCSA GUILTY VERDICTS
| CATEGORIES OF COMPLAINTS | TYPES OF COMPLAINTS | PENALTIES |
|---|---|---|
| Accounts (Medical Scheme Fraud) |
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| Advertising |
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| Charging for services not provided |
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| Commission |
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| Correspondence from HPCSA |
|
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| Failure to provide adequate care |
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| Fee-sharing |
|
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| Fraud |
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| Informed Consent |
|
|
| Laboratory |
|
|
| Medical Certificates |
|
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| Medicine |
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| Mobile Practice |
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| Over-charging |
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| Patient records |
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| Practising whilst suspended |
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| Referrals |
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| Stationery |
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| Unregistered person |
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|
IMPACT ON GENERAL PRACTITIONERS, RADIOLOGISTS AND DENTISTS
Practitioners should note the type of complaints that resulted in guilty verdicts and/or admissions of guilt by registered practitioners at the HPCSA and enhance their own conduct, if required, to avoid complaints by patients as far as possible.
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
The Private Healthcare Inquiry Panel has issued a “Call for Submissions” to all those who wish to participate in the Market Inquiry. The Call for Submissions comes after the Panel, having considered public comment, finalised and published the Administrative Timetable, Statement of Issues and Guidelines for Participation.
The invitation to all stakeholders to make full submissions to the Panel is another key milestone in the Inquiry, which is now entering its crucial investigative phase. The Panel urges participants to make full and detailed submissions at the outset, and looks forward to the same level of interest and cooperation that has been demonstrated to date.
The Panel is particularly interested in submissions on the key issues identified in the Statement of Issues, read with the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry.
The matters identified in the Statement of Issues include, but are not limited to:
- Factors driving costs, prices and expenditure in private healthcare;
- Market power and distortions of competition at various levels of the sector;
- Barriers to entry and expansion by firms at various levels of the sector;
- Factors limiting access by consumers to private healthcare, including affordability;
- Imperfect information as it affects consumers as well as firms in the sector;
- The impact of the regulatory framework (including various statutes, regulations and rules) on competition in private healthcare;
- The specific impact of interventions previously made by the competition authorities in regard to the healthcare sector;
- The interaction between the public and private healthcare sectors.
“We are encouraged by the level of interest and participation in the Inquiry thus far and would like to urge all those affected by the Inquiry to familiarise themselves with these documents, and to take this opportunity to engage fully and openly with the Inquiry” said Clint Oellermann, Inquiry Director.
Full details, including the documents and forms, can be accessed on the Competition Commission and Health Market Inquiry websites. Written Submissions can be e-mailed to submissions@healthinquiry.net
The closing date for full submissions is 31 October 2014.
