The Federal Council wants to that doctor and hospital bills can be better controlled. Therefore, he requires that patients always receive a copy of the hospital bill, which the hospitals or Physicians send the health insurance companies. Today, you would have to send in accordance with the law of such copies. But you don’t do it, because it has no consequences. Now the government wants to penalise those hospitals and Doctors who fail to do so. Whether better-informed patients, find fault and so help to reduce costs, however, is questionable.

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Because often it already fails in terms of understanding: “patients do not understand doctor and hospital bills, a survey we carried out in 2013 shows,” says Felix Schneuwly, health expert at Comparis. The doctors organization FMH is coming to the same conclusion: “This Problem is a permanent fixture, due to the Federal Council’s Proposal, we will take a new approach to eliminate the instance of maladministration,” says Urs Stoffel from the FMH Central Board of Directors. Because there is error, the only know the Patient. Usually this is not done from ill will, and with the note of the patient, the doctor could correct the bill quickly.

gaps in control

The reason for the severity of readability: The invoices are for machines, not for people. The Forum is the exchange of data, in addition to the FMH, the Swiss Federal office for social insurance and the health insurance Association Santésuisse other organisations are represented, the power requirements, the need to adhere to Doctors and hospitals exactly. The allows health insurance companies to verify the invoices in an automated manner. You can find, for example, when incorrectly a power is charged, which is already included in the lump sum for hospital treatment. The computers of the health insurance companies do not notice but when a doctor or hospital lists services that have been confused or even not provided. Only the patient can – if you understand the bill. The following advice will help in the case of invoices from Doctors and outpatient hospital the main points stays to control:

doctor: is Widely noted at the top of the invoice by the keyword “provider” is the Name of the doctor. It is often the case that, for example, in a group practice, a little confused. In addition to the name of the doctor, also that of the patients should be controlled – here, too, there is often confusion.

date: the doctor’s visit actually Took place on this day?

consultation: The conversation with the doctor is a little complicated in the first 5 minutes, another 5 minutes and last 5 minutes divided. If the Patient expects the total number of units, he will receive a Total, which should correspond approximately to the consultation time.

benefits: Has the Patient received the medications listed actually? Also, laboratory tests and other services so at least check it out. An exact Interpretation of the keywords listed services can be for the layman but also difficult.

absence: the invoice Contains a doctor’s performance “in the absence of the patient”, should more accurately look. This is today, only admissible in exceptional cases – for example, in the case of complex investigations for the Overpass in a nursing home.

patients who notice any errors or something not understand, can take in a first step, with the responsible physician contact. “Is something wrong, it is in 99 cases out of 100 an accident, and the Doctors are grateful for such information,” says Urs Stoffel. Because there is a fault with a new bill could easily fix. If no clarification is possible, it can help in a second step, the office of the Ombudsman of Doctors of the Canton responsible. Contact addresses are on the Internet easy to find. Under Doctors Office.ch and the keyword “patient info” is also a simple Tarmed-pattern switch statement with explanatory notes.

Who attends to the above-mentioned points, it can already shoot a lot of mistakes. A little deeper knowledge is needed to consult on the Internet the Tarmed rates and to verify the doctor’s performance. The accident versicherin Suva and health insurance company Atupri offer their Insured in addition, a digital Translation tool. This removes the invoice from the code, and formulated the performance in a well understandable language. According to Suva, which has developed this Translation App, there are already other interested parties.

The previously mentioned bills relating to the Tarmed Tariff for medical services or for outpatient treatments at the hospital. In the case of inpatient hospital stays that are associated with Nights, be the case charged flat rates. Depending on the engagement so there is a certain fee. Individual treatment steps and medication are not reported separately. Due to the flat rate fewer points, which he can control to remain with the patient. It is even more difficult in the case of inpatient stays of a private or semi – private insured person: medical benefits are described sometimes a very General.

Lack of interest?

to control How well patients your medical bills, depends not only on the Reading experience, but also from a financial interest. “In dentist bills that are not covered by medical insurance, look at the patient much more accurate,” says Jonah Städeli by the health insurer Atupri. Even with high deductibles, so if patients have to pay a larger part of the doctor’s bill yourself, tested by the Insured in more detail. An easy-to-understand bill could increase the Control appetite. Städeli refers to the in-house translation help: “We have a year, 25’000 hits on this Tool.” At 60’000 Insured, which would have the technical possibilities to do so, this is a high value. (Editorial Tamedia)

Created: 27.01.2019, 20:07 PM