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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) today (July 7) announced the decision to adjust the amount of refund for the obstetric package charges paid by Non-Eligible Persons (NEPs) fulfilling certain criteria. The HA will issue a gazette notice later this month (July) to effect the revised arrangement.
Under the existing refund arrangement implemented since October 29, 2007, refunds for obstetric package charges for booked cases paid by NEPs are made under two categories of special circumstances. In the first category involving the occurrence of miscarriage, termination of pregnancy or stillbirth, a partial refund of $20,000 is made for justified cases fulfilling the criteria. In the second category involving a change from NEP to Eligible Person (EP) status during the period between payment of the package fee and delivery, a full refund of $39,000 is made. In both categories, the refund amount is subject to deduction of fees for the HA hospital services received for the concerned pregnancy.
An HA spokesman said that there is now an established mechanism for public hospitals to ensure that adequate capacity and priority for local mothers can been secured in public obstetric services.
"The HA Board reviewed the refund arrangement in end May this year and decided that the HA could now respond to requests from non-local mothers and provide a full refund for cases involving the occurrence of miscarriage, termination of pregnancy or stillbirth on compassionate grounds."
According to the spokesman, the refund arrangement under these circumstances will not be an entitlement but subject to application and approval. Previous successful applicants for a partial refund may apply for a full refund, net of the charges for HA services utilised for the concerned pregnancy.
"For a new application, the applicant has to submit to the respective public hospital the appropriate supporting documents, including a certificate by a medical practitioner or medical institution for cases of miscarriage, termination of pregnancy or stillbirths, and other relevant documents. For previous successful applicants who obtained a partial refund, they have to submit new applications but are not required to present supporting documents for which an original copy was submitted to the hospital with their previous application.
"Application forms will be made available in all public hospitals with obstetric services upon the implementation of the new refund arrangement," the spokesman added.
Ends/Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:38
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