WILLEMSTAD.- Since 2009, the rates of general practitioners remained the same, while the doctors’ fees did go up. Dr. Wallid Elhage, president of the CHV, GP’s Association, said that they are a professional association that deals exclusively with the quality of care offered by home doctors and general care. The quality of care of home doctors is a dynamic concept and is adapted to the needs of our community. This naturally includes a balanced budget, a first-line care, of which the care of GP’s is a part, and they project that they will find heavier tasks in the coming decades.
The rates of GP’s for patients with private health insurance, remained the same since 2009. Between 2009 and 2015, the government of Curacao made up the rates of consultations artificially. From 2015 to 2019- In 2015, tariffs were released by the Government of Curaçao- Rates for insurance companies have not been adjusted either.
In these 10 years, health care expenses have gone up for all parties. Insurance companies have anticipated this every year by raising their premiums. To avoid uncontrolled growth and still continue to provide guidance for the necessary increase in rates, CHV proposes rates based on careful indexation. This should take into account the costs such as: employ trained medical assistants and nurses and everything that is necessary to ensure good care for patients, as this is of vital importance. CHV believes that uniform rates are important, since an unequal and chaotic compensation system would lead to a situation where the patient’s care and confidence would suffer.
Fair Trade Authority Curaçao (later: FTAC), reviewed the decisions of CHV taking into account our laws, and although it does not consider its incorrect arguments in any way, declared them illegal in the context of the agreement regarding prices. The solution according to FTAC is: that each GP determine their rate and negotiate with each insurance company individually, or the Government will set the rates. Some large insurance companies have adjusted their insurance premiums since January 1, 2019. Those who have private insurance must pay extra and the additional payment will depend on the consultation fees determined by their home doctors.
The discussion is the quality of medical care. Expenses are not equal or stable, and with the highest demands that GP’s already have for the quality of care, the necessary investments must also be possible to be financially charged for them. CHV is trying to structure this and update what was pending. His views according to Dr. Elhage for the necessary quality is, “clean books” and periodic re-evaluation in the form of more regular structural indexing, which could avoid this type of correction so great for the future.
