03.05.2013 Views

Optimalisatie van de werkingsprocessen van het Bijzonder ... - KCE

Optimalisatie van de werkingsprocessen van het Bijzonder ... - KCE

Optimalisatie van de werkingsprocessen van het Bijzonder ... - KCE

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

<strong>KCE</strong> Reports 133 Special Solidarity Fund 159<br />

9.10.10 The internal SSF procedure within the hospital<br />

9.10.10.1 The initiator and final responsible for SSF applications<br />

• The medical doctor was indicated in all interviews as the initiator of SSF<br />

files submission. The social service was sometimes mentioned as<br />

additional/complementary initiator. They intervene as an initiator when<br />

contacted by a patient on financial problems but also anticipate when they<br />

are aware of a situation (medical treatment) where an application for<br />

reimbursement by the SSF could be envisaged. The fact the social workers<br />

are operationally linked to the medical service of the hospital enhances<br />

the possibility for <strong>de</strong>tection of such cases. Patients can play an active role<br />

in the initiation when they know the SSF or when communicating their<br />

financial problems with the hospital staff (nurses, medical doctors). The<br />

pharmacy <strong>de</strong>partment and invoice <strong>de</strong>partment were both mentioned<br />

twice as an initiator. They have a signal function when they <strong>de</strong>tect the<br />

or<strong>de</strong>ring of very expensive drugs or i<strong>de</strong>ntify invoices for very expensive<br />

materials.<br />

• The final <strong>de</strong>cision to submit a file to the SSF is clearly a medical <strong>de</strong>cision.<br />

In all interviews the treating medical doctor is indicated as the ultimate<br />

responsible and <strong>de</strong>ci<strong>de</strong>r. Structural involvement of the social service has<br />

been mentioned; as well as the invoice <strong>de</strong>partment and the pharmacy<br />

<strong>de</strong>partment.<br />

• In the hospitals where there is structural involvement of the social<br />

/financial or pharmacy <strong>de</strong>partment in the final <strong>de</strong>cision, these <strong>de</strong>partments<br />

advice the treating medical doctor on the SSF procedure. If they are<br />

convinced SSF criteria aren’t met, the social services stop the procedure<br />

of submission to the SSF. In the other hospitals, the social services don’t<br />

take up such a role since it’s not their competency and responsibility or<br />

because the situation has not yet occurred.<br />

• None of the social workers gives a specific prognosis on the changes of<br />

success for SSF files to patients in or<strong>de</strong>r not to create false expectations.<br />

This is a generalized hospital policy that counts for every intervention of<br />

the social services.<br />

9.10.10.2 More or less involvement of the social services in the internal procedure<br />

Many respon<strong>de</strong>nts ask for more involvement in SSF files. The request for more<br />

involvement is situated at two levels: the SSF and the hospital<br />

• Towards the SSF, the main requests are related to having information<br />

regarding the final <strong>de</strong>cision and more specifically the reasons/motivation<br />

why a file is approved/<strong>de</strong>nied. Some interviewees would also appreciate<br />

more information on the status of a file (which step in the procedure?<br />

practical planning) and more transparency on SSF criteria and global<br />

<strong>de</strong>cisions.<br />

• Internally, at hospital level there is the aim to be more involved in the<br />

initiation of SSF files to avoid potential SSF applications not being <strong>de</strong>tected<br />

and as a consequence prevent situations where patients don’t get<br />

reimbursement, provi<strong>de</strong> more support on content and finally more<br />

internal administrative coordination of SSF files.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!