Andeclip threatens to halt service

[NewsWhore]

The National Association of Private Clinics has announced that it will inform the Health Insurance Providers (ARS) that the private clinics will suspend service to their insured members beginning next week. This decision comes as a result of the Superintendent of Health and Work Risks (Sisalril) decision not to allow increased insurance coverage for catastrophic illnesses, premature births and intensive care patients. Andeclip was requesting an increase from RD$500,000 to RD$700,000 per case. The clinic owners say that the current coverage is not sufficient and that is why they ask patients to make a pre-payment for services in these three cases. According to Andeclip spokesperson Rafael Mena, the association will make the notification next week with the idea of entering into negotiations aimed at finding a solution to the issues. Otherwise, the 137 clinics affiliated with Andeclip will stop accepting payments from the ARS and will stop all treatments for patients covered by the ARS. Sisalril superintendent Fernando Caamano told reporters that he was looking for ways to incorporate the public hospitals into the ARS network of health care providers.

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