Thai hospital checks out of universal healthcare gold card scheme
Mongkutwattana Hospital slammed the brakes on accepting outpatients under Thailand’s universal healthcare scheme, famously dubbed the gold card, as financial woes grip the facility.
The shock move, spearheaded by director Riengthong Nanna, took effect on Friday, December 13 with the hospital shutting its doors to gold card outpatients. The heart of the matter? Alleged unpaid dues by the National Health Security Office (NHSO) that are making the hospital’s balance sheet bleed.
The hospital claims a staggering 44 million baht is owed by the NHSO for outpatient referrals stretching back to March, said Riengthong.
“Continuing to service these patients would send us into financial oblivion.”
Riengthong recounted a similar debacle back in 2020, when the hospital was forced to take legal action over a debt of 13.2 million baht.
Despite ongoing courtroom drama with no end in sight, Mongkutwattana is drawing a line in the sand, refusing to accept more outpatients unless they cough up cash or the NHSO pays up. Riengthong hinted at a possible split from the NHSO next year if the stalemate drags on.
But NHSO is singing a different tune. Deputy Secretary-General Atthaporn Limpanyalert refuted claims of unpaid bills, stating the NHSO has a budget in place for hospital payments but acknowledged the tangled web of Mongkutwattana’s finances.
The earlier 13.2 million baht debt stemmed from a clinic linked to Mongkutwattana, which lost its NHSO contract due to financial mismanagement in 2020, leaving the NHSO unable by law to cover its debts, Bangkok Post reported.
The fresh 44 million baht debt remains in limbo as the NHSO dives deeper into outpatient data in Bangkok. A hefty 2.1 billion baht audit request from various clinics, plus another financial probe into a 1.2 billion baht pocket, has seen the NHSO freeze payments in their tracks, said Atthaporn.
“Payments are paused due to these investigations.”
However, to ease the strain, the NHSO has forked out a hefty 60 million baht advance, handed over to the hospital yesterday.
Should Mongkutwattana stick to its guns and stop outpatient referrals, the NHSO is ready to reroute patients to other hospitals, including Chulabhorn and Phaet Panya, ensuring no one’s left out in the cold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news.
Why might hospitals in Thailand face financial challenges under the universal healthcare scheme?
Delays in payments from the NHSO can strain hospitals financially, jeopardizing their ability to sustain operations.
How could the NHSO’s investigation into payment data impact healthcare services?
The investigation could delay payments to hospitals, potentially leading to service disruptions for patients reliant on the healthcare scheme.
What if Mongkutwattana Hospital severs its contract with the NHSO?
The hospital might lose patients relying on the gold card scheme, impacting its revenue and patient care capacity.
How do budget mismanagement issues affect contractual agreements between clinics and the NHSO?
Budget mismanagement can lead to termination of agreements, affecting clinics’ statuses and their ability to receive NHSO funds.
What strategies might the NHSO employ to prevent future financial disputes with hospitals?
Improving payment processes and transparency, and ensuring timely budget allocations could mitigate financial disputes.
