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News Reviews: PMB-defaulting schemes could have accreditation withdrawn

The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) has issued a stern warning � with a threat of accreditation suspension or even withdrawal � to medical schemes and administrators who fail to comply in respect of the provision and payment of prescribed minimum benefits (PMBs).

News Reviews: NHI scepticism �not a reaction against change�

Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi’s contention that the NHI sceptics were reacting against change and had no interest in the well-being and security of patients, was unfounded, according to Frost & Sullivan health care analyst, Lorraine Wentzel.

News Reviews: Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang

Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang (69), Minister of Health from 1999 to 2007, passed away in a Johannesburg private hospital mid-afternoon on December 16 (Day of Reconciliation), from complications arising from a liver transplant received in 2007.

News Reviews: CMS Acting Registrar appointed

Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi appointed Craig Burton-Durham as the Acting Registrar of Medical Schemes with effect from the end of November 2009 following the resignation of Patrick Matshidze earlier in the year.

News Reviews: Mkhize moves on

Adv Boyce Mkhize left the Health Profession Council of SA (HPCSA) at the end of January after 10 years as registrar to assume the CEO position at the National Nuicleur Regulator of SA.

News Reviews: Committee sits...

Committee chair Dr Olive Shisana with member Dr Mark Blecher, Director of Social Services in National Treasury, Cape Town

The Ministerial Advisory Committee on the National Health Insurance (NHI) Policy, chaired by current NHI task team chair, Dr Olive

Shisana, had its first sitting near OR Tambo Airport, Johannesburg, in early December.

News Reviews: Scheme solvencies down, non-health care spend up

While the overall medical scheme industry average solvency level decreased by 14.5% from the audited solvency level of 36.6% at 31 December 2008 to 31.3% at 30 September 2009, on an industry level this still exceeded the required minimum level of 25%, as per Regulation 29(1) of the Medical Schemes Act, for both open and restricted schemes.

News Reviews: Ideal: Regulated private funding alongside NHI

Crowding out of medical schemes will not capture additional funds for National Health Insurance (NHI), Discovery Health actuary, Emile Stipp, said at a recent meeting convened by the College of Medicine (CMSA).

News Reviews: Schemes Council wants curator for Bonitas

The acting Registrar of Medical Schemes has filed papers with the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg towards the end of January asking for an urgent hearing to place Bonitas Medical Fund under curatorship in terms of Section 56 of the Medical Schemes Act (Act 131 of 1998).

News Reviews: Bonitas PO Nkosi resigns

Bonitas principal officer Bafana Nkosi resigned at the beginning of February, according to media reports, to avoid facing charges that would have been brought against him in a disciplinary hearing that week.