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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) will further strengthen the management of medical fees next month (December 2007) with an enhanced computer system to alert frontline hospital staff to patients with outstanding bills when they return for services. Non-emergency treatment for Non-Eligible Persons (NEPs) with unsettled medical fees will also be blocked at the point of registration.
Dr Cheung Wai-lun, HA Director (Cluster Services), today (21 November) said that as a responsible and accountable public organisation, the HA is committed to continuously improving the management of outstanding medical fees in public hospitals to ensure the optimal use of public resources.
"While it is HA's policy to ensure service priority for locals, there is no guarantee that services will be provided to NEPs other than emergency services. Starting from next month, non-locals with outstanding medical bills will be blocked from registration except for emergency service or for treatment of conditions related to major health threats."
"With an increasing number of NEPs using HA services in recent years, the amount of fees owed by them is increasing. As one of the measures to address this issue, non-emergency medical services will not be provided to the NEPs with outstanding fees starting from 4 December 2007."
Before settlement of all outstanding fees, the NEPs will only be provided with emergency and medical services related to major public health threats. Once their conditions can no longer be classified as emergency or a major public health threat, medical services will not be provided by HA hospitals. It is the responsibility of non-locals to seek appropriate subsequent treatment outside HA hospitals. HA staff will provide the necessary referral if needed.
Notice of the enhanced measures are being posted up in all public hospitals and printed in appointment slips to remind NEP patients.
Over the past year, a series of enhanced measures has already been implemented by HA hospitals for the effective management and collection of outstanding medical fees. The major ones included the introduction of an administrative charge for late payments; installation of self-service payment kiosks, and facilitating payment at Automatic Teller Machines and convenience stores.
"The HA will continue to closely monitor the effectiveness of the enhanced measures and explore other feasible initiatives in the management of medical fees collection to ensure the cost-effective use of public health care resources," Dr Cheung remarked.
Ends/Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Issued at HKT 14:59
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