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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority will provide two additional and more convenient measures for patients to settle medical fees and charges from September 1 (Saturday). Patients can settle their medical bills at more than 800 convenience stores and 1000 Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) at any time of the day.
"The additional two means of payment in more than 1,800 locations will help patients settle their medical bills with greater ease and convenience," Chief Manager (Financial Planning) of the authority, Dr K H Lee said today (August 30). "It also encourages patients to settle their bills earlier to avoid an administrative charge which will be levied on the amount outstanding for late payment. This will also save our operating costs in managing outstanding medical fees," Dr Lee said.
The authority on July 1 began imposing an administrative charge on patients for overdue medical bills. 5% of the outstanding fee overdue for 60 days from issuance of final bills is levied, subject to an upper limit of $1,000 for each bill. An additional 10% on the outstanding fees will be levied if the bills remain outstanding 90 days from issuance of the final bills, subject to an upper limit of $10,000 for each bill. The total administrative charge accumulating to 15%, or an upper limit of $11,000, will be levied.
Medical bills with 7-Eleven bar code and ATM code issued by all public hospitals under the Hospital Authority on or after Saturday (September 1) can be settled at all 7-Eleven or JETCO ATM machines with the "JET PAYMENT" sign. Patients can make cash payment at any 7-Eleven in Hong Kong by presenting the bill. Patients can also settle payments at JETCO ATMs in Hong Kong with the "JET PAYMENT" sign using JETCO member bank's ATM card or credit card with cash withdrawal function. Patients are advised to retain the receipts provided by ATM or convenience store for record purposes.
"In addition, the authority also plans in October to implement a new measure on providing limited treatment to the Non-eligible Persons (NEPs) with outstanding bills," Dr Lee said. "NEPs with unpaid medical bills will be refused for all non-urgent treatment (specialist outpatient attendance and elective inpatient admission) until all bills have been settled. These measures are to ensure the effective use of public health care resources for needy patients."
A notice to patients on the new payment methods will be posted at the shroff office of all public hospitals. All payment means have also been listed in detail on the overleaf of the medical bills for patients' easy reference.
Ends/Thursday, August 30, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:15
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