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The University Hospital of Northern Norway (UNN) has discovered that there are different and incorrect practices for self-payment of patients in some parts of the organization.
The hospital’s own investigations show that some clinics appear to have paid for certain materials and goods for which no payment is due.
The error was discovered after reviewing a specific case in relation to a complaint.
– I wish they had found out sooner. If you act in good faith and believe you have the correct practice, you will continue until you realize that this is not the case, CEO Anita Schumacher tells NRK.
Go through routines
Hospitals can take a deductible of NOK 375 plus NOK 75 for «bandage material and anesthetic ».
Payment for the x-ray examination can also be made and there is no meeting fee if patients do not show up at the agreed time without saying no.
Some of the patients must have received bills for additional amounts exceeding 75 crowns.
– There is probably simply a lack of knowledge and therefore also of compliance in parts of the organization regarding the new regulations, says Schumacher.
Hospital director Anita Schumacher apologizes to patients who have overpaid.
Photo: Rune Stoltz Bertinussen / Scanpix
Has received more than 1 million crowns more
In the years 2017–2020, UNN has taken an additional NOK 1.1 million in copayments from patients for supplies, dressings, and anesthetics.
– This is in stark contrast to the sums and scope that have been uncritically featured in the Fremover newspaper in recent days, it says in a UNN press release.
The newspaper writes that former ophthalmologist Jens Kratholm believes there are grounds to suppose that the UNN may have demanded NOK 100 million or more from patients in the form of illegal self-pay.
In December, Kratholm was charged with fraud against several thousand patients. At the beginning of the same year, he denounced Helse Nord for fraud.
It is not clear if several have done the same
UNN is now working to get an overview of the number of patients who have overpaid and who they are.
– We will do everything possible to rectify what has been paid too much of the patients who have been with us, concludes the director of UNN, Anita Schumacher.
UNN had just over 385,000 outpatient consultations, including daycare in 2019.
Helse Nord is familiar with the case. Now they are awaiting responses from UNN’s own polls.
– As we become more aware of the UNN survey, we will help ensure that any misuse of the regulations is corrected. It is in everyone’s interest that mistakes are corrected and that the regulations are applied equally. It’s too early to say if this is a problem for many, writes communications director Anne May Knudsen to NRK.
