The Ministry of Public Health has announced that systems are in place for all public health providers to bill their affiliates. The presidential order is for all public services to be free. However, in cases where patients are affiliated to health plans, they can use their plans to pay for the services. The systems will improve public hospital finances.
Public Health Minister Altagracia Guzman Marcelino says that the decision dates back to Resolution 25 of the Ministry of Public Health dated 2 December 2014.
During the Corripio Communications Group meeting yesterday, Thursday 22 January 2015, Guzman said that an electronic digital records system is already in place in the provinces of Azua, San Juan and Elias Pina as a pilot program. It will then be applied to Montecristi, Valverde, Santiago Rodriguez and Dajabon, to be followed by La Vega, Sanchez Ramirez (Cotui) and Monsenor Nouel (Bonao). The program is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank and will be implemented nationwide, except in the Santo Domingo metropolitan areas. Guzman said that financing has to be found for implementing the digital records program for the National District and the province of Santo Domingo, where most patients are located.
Ministra de Salud revela hospitales están habilitados para cobrar servicios