BusinessLive reports that SA’s biggest medical scheme administrators, Discovery Health and Medscheme, have softened their stance on virtual consultations with psychologists.
They have agreed to pay out at the same rate as they would previously have done for face-to-face sessions. Last week SA’s biggest organisation representing doctors, the SA Medical Association (Sama), expressed concern that the schemes were offering lower rates for virtual consultations. At the time, both administrators said their policies were in line with international best practice and reflected the fact that virtual consultations did not involve a physical examination and had lower input costs. “We recognise that the primary reasons for the lower consult rate for most health-care practitioners do not apply to psychologists. Consequently it is fair, after constructive engagement with the psychologists, to adjust the tariff accordingly,” said Discovery Health CEO Ryan Noach. Under SA’s national coronavirus lockdown, people have been instructed to stay at home and only venture out for food, medicine or essential health services. Direct consultations with medical practitioners have consequently plummeted across the board.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tamar Kahn at BusinessLive
- Read too, Teething problems for Discovery, as Covid-19 unshackles telemedicine, at BusinessLive
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