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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Following the Government's acceptance of an earlier proposal by the Hospital Authority (HA) Board, the revised Non-Eligible Person (NEP) obstetric package charge for non-booked cases in public hospitals was gazetted today (May 11) for implementation from tomorrow (May 12). The fee has been revised from $48,000 to a new level of $90,000.
The HA spokesman reiterated that the fee revision has been implemented to complement the stepped-up border controls and law enforcement by the Government to deter the undesirable and high-risk behaviour of seeking last-minute hospital admission before delivery through the Accident & Emergency Department (AED).
"The revision has taken into consideration the relevant factors, including inter alia, the complexity and intensity of care for non-booked cases, price comparability with the private market and the affordability factor."
The spokesman explained that for patients who have a delivery or have received delivery care services in public hospitals, clinics or the AED without prior booking arrangement for the concerned pregnancy and/or without having attended any antenatal attendance at a HA specialist outpatient clinic during the concerned pregnancy, a minimum rate of $90,000 will be charged.
"This minimum rate covers the charges for the delivery and the first three days of hospitalisation in general wards (i.e. a two-night stay) for the delivery concerned."
If the NEP concerned is admitted to general wards for a period exceeding the normal coverage, the prevailing NEP maintenance fee for general wards will be charged for the extra days while other inpatient charges for public wards and outpatient charges will apply separately.
Ends/Friday, May 11, 2012
Issued at HKT 11:57
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