The Council for Medical Schemes has released Circular 22 of 2021 that relates to revised exemption conditions to Circular 56 of 2020 which was published following the outcome of the renewal exemption applications of insurers conducting the business of medical schemes.
Circular 56 of 2020 provided an overall update regarding the establishment of the LCBO Advisory Committees and development of the Low-Cost Benefit Guidelines.
It also provided specific feedback with regard to the renewal applications that were submitted by insurers in terms of section 8(h) of the Medical Schemes Act (131 of 1998) (MS Act) from compliance with the provisions of section 20(1).
Section 201(1) of the MS Act provides that no person shall carry on the business of a medical scheme unless that person is registered as a medical scheme under section 24. The schedule of exemption conditions that were imposed was attached as Annexure 1.
Amendments to the exemption conditions
Following deliberations with the industry, amendments to the exemption conditions were submitted to Council for ratification as contained in the revised Annexure 1. Although the majority of the exemption conditions remain unchanged, there are some major changes contained in CMS Circular 22 of 2021:
1. Outstanding information relating to paragraph 7.2
Insurers are required to submit updated information before 31 December 2021, consistent with paragraph 7.2 which includes, amongst others, audited financial statements, products, number of beneficiaries, product assumptions, etc.
2. Accreditation of administrators, managed care organisations and brokerages/brokers
Insurers will have to demonstrate whether they would be able to comply with the accreditation requirements, including accreditation standards, agreements, etc upon conversion into the medical schemes’ environment.
Applications for accreditation will only be permitted for registered medical schemes, i.e. once conversion into the medical schemes’ environment has been affected.
3. Broker compensation
Based on the concerns raised by the industry, broker compensation under the MS Act will not be sustainable. Insurers are required to submit information to the CMS on the current compensation models and will be requested to submit reports on measures that will be implemented to gradually decrease non-healthcare expenditure, including broker fees.
“It should be noted that the amendments to the exemption conditions do not alter the current exemption expiry date of 31 March 2022,” according to the CMS.
The CMS points out that it remains committed to ensuring that low-income earners have access to quality healthcare that is regulated effectively and complies with provisions of the MSA. “For this reason, the CMS is open to engaging with insurers and medical schemes to work towards transitioning into the medical schemes’ environment for improved healthcare coverage.”
Also read: Low Cost Benefit Options and Demarcation – CMS provides further extension
