HASA says that more time and engagement needed for NHRPL

The Department of Health has said it will publish the NHRPL on Friday, 12 September.

According to Hasa, the methodology published by the Department of Health to determine a NHRPL for health providers is not suitable to the hospital industry - a fact that the Department of Health itself acknowledges in the official Guidelines for the National Health Reference Price List.

Hasa says obtaining approval on a relevant methodology is a legal pre-requisite to ensuring that appropriate hospital tariffs are decided, which will, in turn, lay the foundation for the financial sustainability of the private hospital sector.

The Guidelines for the National Health Reference Price List stipulate that if a stakeholder wishes to submit an alternative methodology other than that which is outlined in the Guidelines, approval of the alternative methodology is required before it may be used to determine any pricing whatsoever. Only once the approval process has been finalised can further data be submitted and the actual process of arriving at tariffs begin.

Although Hasa has submitted an alternative methodology for the determination of an NHRPL for private hospitals to the Department of Health, no approval has yet been provided by the Department.

The determination of an appropriate and relevant NHRPL is a complicated issue that requires careful consideration and evaluation. More time clearly needs to be allocated to allow for further engagement between Hasa and representatives from the Department of Health.

Hasa has been and remains committed to working with the Department of Health in a bid to facilitate approval of the alternative methodology.

Hasa says it will be deeply disappointed if the Department of Health publishes an NHRPL for hospitals this Friday that simply ignores the industry's methodology proposal and should this transpire, it would review its rights accordingly.