Contact MediKredit at (011) 770 6000.

It should be noted that the BHF is not a regulatory authority and will not assume the responsibility to regulate the professional conduct of any health professional. By virtue of a PCNS number only being issued to a person who is duly registered with a statutory body, any dispute regarding the legitimacy of either the registration or access to a PCNS number would be deferred to the relevant statutory organisation for a ruling. Where a professional body assumes the responsibility of regulating its membership, the BHF would defer to that organisation to assist in the resolution of any dispute.

The BHF website allows you to search for the details of a specific medical scheme. You may also contact the Council for Medical Schemes on 012-431-0500 for further enquiries.

The BHF membership consists of more than 95% of all medical schemes in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. This is in keeping with BHF's regional focus and in sequence with common market developments in the South African Developing Community (SADC).

It has been recognised by the PCNS Advisory Forum that the system should be jointly funded on an equitable not-for-profit basis, by healthcare service providers and medical schemes, since these are the two parties who enjoy the benefits of the system. A nominal annual subscription to PCNS allows healthcare service providers who are registered with the relevant authority the use of a unique practice number, which guarantees up to date information to medical schemes and administrators, thereby facilitating more prompt billing and reimbursement. Annual PCNS subscription also entitles providers to the following services:

• Access to support services from the Client Services Division;
• Problem resolution pertaining to Recommended Scale of Benefit (RSOB) code description and application thereof for reimbursement;
• Guidance and appropriate referral on the use of new Recommended Scale of Benefit codes and descriptions; and
• Verification of your practice details for billing purposes.

The practice number, allocated to all registered healthcare providers is the essential billing code that triggers the process of reimbursement of a claim to either a medical scheme member or service provider. This is in accordance with the requirement of the Medical Schemes Act 131 of 1998 wherein it is stated that a medical scheme may only reimburse a member or a provider of relevant healthcare services for services rendered against a valid practice code number.

In accordance with the Medical Schemes Act 131 of 1998, a medical scheme may only reimburse a member or a healthcare service provider directly for services rendered by a provider of service duly registered or licensed with the relevant government department or statutory council. In order to facilitate efficient commerce, a central repository of healthcare provider registration information has been developed over time by the medical scheme industry in the form of a Practice Code Numbering System (PCNS).

To obtain a practice number, it is required that the healthcare service provider be registered as an independent practitioner with the relevant statutory council, and that the healthcare service provider's scope of practice be recognised by the BHF. In addition to this, there is an application form to be completed (available on this website, or obtainable from our Client Services Division). This application form should be returned to our office by registered mail or overnight courier, together with your registration fee. Your registration should be renewed by the 31st of January of every new year.

It takes approximately 3 to 5 days for a practice number to be issued, provided that all the documentation we request accompanies your application form. Once this practice number has been issued, all medical schemes on the PCNS database are notified electronically.

Written communication in this regard should be forwarded to the BHF Communications Manager, or fill in the online application form.

The Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) was launched in December 1999, to which medical schemes may voluntarily belong. The vision of BHF is "a private healthcare funding system that ensures lifetime access to comprehensive and affordable healthcare for the average working person".

The Board of Healthcare Funders is a non-for-profit association of schemes of Southern Africa.
The BHF membership consists of more than 95% of all medical schemes in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. This is in keeping with BHF's regional focus and in sequence with common market developments in the South African Developing Community (SADC).

Click here to view BHF Members