[ad_1]
The HSE is trying to take up as much as 40 percent of the activity in private hospitals, potentially for two years, to cope with further increases in Covid-19 cases.
According to their proposals, the HSE is seeking private hospital facilities to provide complex “time-dependent” medical and surgical treatment for public patients in a non-Covid environment.
However, in some cases, Covid-19 patients would be treated in private hospitals.
The HSE said on Friday it was “collaborating with private hospitals to provide services at several different levels.”
The HSE did not respond to questions about how many private hospitals have accepted its proposals so far. However, within the private hospital sector, senior figures believe that few, if any, have signed up so far.
The HSE said it was in discussions with the private sector about a “safety net agreement for activation in the event of an extreme rise in Covid-19 in the near future.”
He also said that he had tendered for private hospitals to provide different services, such as the provision of inpatient treatment and care for urgent and time-dependent care, scheduled inpatient care such as orthopedics, outpatient services and access to diagnostic services. “
Members of the Association of Medical and Dental Consultants, a recently created new organization representing private sector specialists, expressed dissatisfaction with the proposals. He maintained that they were “ill-thought-out” and did not fully understand that private hospitals were currently operating at full capacity and were treating patients with conditions that were as complex as those in the public system.
Guaranteed access
The HSE is not looking to take over entirely private hospitals as it did in the spring. Instead, you’re looking for a deal that provides guaranteed access on a pre-agreed basis to 40 percent of typical levels of hospital and outpatient activity on a phased basis.
HSE is seeking an “all-inclusive” package of care to be provided, including physician services at the private hospital. This would be paid at a general rate based on the average cost of similar procedures in the public system based on the costs of personnel and consumables.
It would be up to the private hospital to make the necessary arrangements for such a comprehensive care package. The HSE would not have a direct contractual arrangement with consultants.
However, it is understood that the HSE wishes to provide referral of some of its own clinical or other personnel to private hospitals to address a particular service requirement.
It is understood that the proposals provide that when a public patient was treated as a private patient, any income received from a health insurer would be offset by the bill paid by HSE.
The private hospital would bill patients who are responsible for mandatory public hospital charges.
The HSE proposed that any new agreement would have a duration of 24 months. However, after a year there would be a review looking at developments, including treatments or the availability of a Covid-19 vaccine.
Infection rate
Among the measures that would lead to the activation of the HSE proposals are the national rate of infection by Covid-19 in the community, the level of hospitalization and the occupation of the ICU.
Most of the private hospitals contacted on Friday declined to comment.
Bon Secours Health System said: “Discussions have been ongoing on and off for months about a second wave, and the HSE intensified them this week. Any agreement would need the approval of our board and the commitment of our fellow consultants. “
[ad_2]