This is what came out in the newspaper. If you need the truth about medical cards, feel free to contact me.




ING Insurance Talks With Eight Private Hospitals Fall Through, Policy Holders Face Problems




KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 (Bernama) -- Effective Tuesday, ING Insurance policy holders who seek treatment at eight private hospitals in the Klang Valley need to pay first, before claiming from the insurance company.

This follows failed discussions between ING and the hospitals which form the Joint Inter-Hospital Healthcare Committee (JHIC), over the past three months.

The JHIC which has been holding discussions with ING's top management and mediated by Bank Negara, failed to reach an agreement on the new terms and conditions set by ING's new Healthcare Service Panel Agreement (HSPA).

Since January, representatives from Pantai Medical Centre, Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre, Sunway Hospital, Assunta Hospital, Ampang Puteri Hospital, Tawakal Hospital, Prince Court Medical Centre and Damansara Specialist Centre had been holding discussions with the ING team.

JHIC chairman Dr Steven Chow said: "The failure to agree to terms in ING HSPA will likely see the insurer strike off over 600 doctors from these hospitals.

"In fact, we have been informed that ING has already removed more than 150 consultants from various hospitals," he said in a press conference at Pantai Medical Centre here Wednesday.

Dr Steven claimed the new HSPA compromised the quality of private healthcare and therefore, would breach the Private Healthcare Facilities & Services Act (PHFSA) 1998, with respect to "fee splitting'.

"Fee splitting, as defined under the PHFSA 1998 bars any form of arrangement between healthcare service provider such as practitioners, healthcare facilities, organisations or individuals as an inducement to refer or receive a patient from another healthcare service provider.

"Also, we are concerned about adverse effects such as the erosion of a patient's right to seek treatment from their preferred doctors, as well as the delivery of quality healthcare services," he added.

Under the previous HSPA, ING customers could visit any hospital in its panel for treatment of various diseases. After the treatment is administered, ING will reimburse doctors for fees, according to a pre-agreed schedule.

The PHFSA 1998 was enacted by the Health Ministry to regulate private healthcare facilities and services in the country, and ensure a high standard of private medical healthcare service for the public.

Dr Steven claimed that ING's request for discounts on hospital charges could have been entertained as they were directly controlled by the hospitals.

However, he said they could not give discounts on the professional fees of the doctors since it was regulated under the PHSFA 1998, Schedule 13.

With the new ruling, more than 60 companies will be affected, and JIHC has been issuing letters to its patients, management of the hospitals, ING's corporate clients, Bank Negara and Health Ministry, besides distributing flyers on the matter.

-- BERNAMA