A seminar was held in Johannesburg and Cape Town on two issues of critical importance to medical schemes. The first was that of the application for an exemption for medical schemes from the Competition Act. The second was to bring to the attention of our members a proposal which the CMS together with BHF will take forward to the Minister of Health. The proposal centres around a bargaining chamber process for the setting of tariffs, which will then be regulated. Obviously, there are a number of aspects to this proposal which need to be discussed with member medical schemes, administrator organizations and managed care companies so as to provide feedback to the CMS.

Presentations

Competition in healthcare
- update
- relating to tariffs – Dr Debbie Pearmain, Head of Legal Services

The way forward – Dr Rajesh Patel, Head of Benefit & Risk