UK news

Bupa delists hospitals

Bupa has announced that it is to remove 12 hospitals from its network in 2012.
Dr Natalie Jane MacDonald managing director of BUPA Health and Well-being, said “our view is the private hospital market at the moment is not working in consumers best interest.”
The 12 hospitals being removed from the Bupa hospital list are all within the South African owned Netcare Group – General Health Group.
Stephen Collier CEO of General Healthcare Group said “ he was very disappointed by the proposal”.
Bupa has denied that it will not settle claims at de-listed hospitals and has reacted angrily to a letter sent by BMI to patients as "misleading and defamatory",
The letter suggests that the de-listing is "part of an ongoing Bupa initiative to direct patients to healthcare facilities who charge the lowest price, rather than offering patients the best quality hospitals and consultants."

In a seperate development Bupa has announced that it is to introduce a process of open referrals to Consultants. The new system applies to certain policyholders falling within the corporate select market.

The process means that Bupa will provide a list of Consultants for the patient to choose from, no longer the patients GP.
The proposal ahs caused considerable reaction from within the private hospital provider network.

Source:
http://www.hi-mag.com/health-insurance/product-area/pmi/article385126.ece?paging=off&fullPage=true&service=print