Health Service and Legislation

The role of the department is to provide technical input on systemic and strategic health industry issues from a medical schemes perspective to:

• Members of BHF
• Stakeholders in the medical schemes industry
• Government
• Consumer representative organisations
• Health service providers
• Regulatory bodies

in such a manner as to protect the interests of medical schemes and their members and fulfil the vision and mission of the BHF

In practical terms this includes:

• The provision of legal and other support and advice concerning the PCNS
• The provision of legal and other support and advice concerning the FMU
• Provision of input into trustee training programmes
• The giving of opinions and views on health policy and health issues from a funder perspective
• Participation in industry meetings in such a manner as to ensure that BHF's views are heard and understood
• The creation and maintenance of relationships with regulatory bodies such as the Department of Health,Council for Medical Schemes, Health Professions Council, National Credit Regulator, Financial Services Board etc
• Raising the level of awareness within the medical schemes industry on issues that are key to their success or survival
• The interpretation and application of proposed, new and existing legislation to the medical schemes industry
• The communication of such interpretations to the medical schemes industry
• Commenting on proposed legislation within the parameters of the legislative process in order to protect the interests of medical schemes and their members
• Representing the views of BHF at industry and government forums on new and existing legislation.