The restriction on the sending of funds that the National Government imposed on the provinces impacts all areas.
In Buenos Aires, the social work of public employees (IOMA) announced that
starting in March it will begin to charge a “co-payment”
to members for care of any medical specialty.
Although details remain to be finalized, the extra amount they will have to pay for consultations will be between
1,000 and 3,000 pesos.
It will be done through
Banco Provincia's electronic wallet, “Cuenta DNI”,
and would be adjusted for inflation throughout the year.
The Medical Assistance Work Institute (IOMA) is the entity that offers health coverage to all public employees, teachers, police officers, municipal agents and retirees in the Province.
It has more than 2.6 million adherents who by law are obliged to contribute to the funds administered by that entity that depends on the Buenos Aires government.
In addition, it maintains a voluntary membership scheme that incorporated
almost half a million people.
In January the quota for that category increased.
It went from 15,500 pesos to 19,500 for the basic service.
And another adjustment is planned in March to take it to 23,500.
However,
the value is a third of what any prepaid card on the market charges.
In 2023, it had a budget of 350 billion pesos assigned.
In recent months it was in tension with the colleges of kinesiologists (Cokiba);
dentists and anesthesiologists – among others – for
claims for improvements in the fees paid to professionals.
Ioma will begin to collect co-payments in the Province of Buenos Aires.
He also had serious disputes with the La Plata medical union (AMP) due to budget differences.
In the capital of Buenos Aires, IOMA has
more than 300 thousand associates and 5,000 professional providers.
Until now, IOMA covered all specialist consultations
at no additional cost.
Only for care with doctors included in category “C”, a “bonus” of 290 pesos was paid, which was obtained online through the institution's platform.
Those classified in ranks “A” and “B” attended at no extra cost.
A category “C” enrollee
charges 4,800 pesos per consultation.
According to what they said at the institute, the authorities are negotiating with the schools a 25% increase.
The co-payment amount would not all go into the professional's pocket because a mechanism would be attempted to exclude some members from this obligation.
“We came with a policy of eliminating co-payments and we had implemented it with psychologists or biochemists.
But we are going to have to reimplement it and it is not because of poor management by IOMA.
But
the adjustment measures of Javier Milei, the uncontrolled increase in inflation and the indiscriminate and uncontrolled increase in medications
force this decision,” explained the president of IOMA, Homero Giles.
At the institute they explained to
Clarín
that “the policy of defunding the provinces” complicated the panorama of provincial social work.
This week, Axel Kicillof denounced that the Nation did not send the funds to pay the Teaching Incentive to teachers.
It is equivalent to 10% of the salary of an agent who is just starting out and
the province had to contribute it with its own resources.
The copayment
would apply starting next month or in April
.
“It will only be done through a DNI Account.
This tool will give us control, traceability, and will allow us to finance those who will be exempt from payment,” said the official.
It is resolved that
cancer patients or retirees will not have to pay extra money for care.
The crisis in health care entities crosses provincial borders.
The deregulation of the activity imposed by Milei triggered an avalanche of increases in prepaid bills.
It was 40% in January and another 25% increase is expected in March.
However, professionals assure that this flow of funds will not be transferred to fees.
For this reason, the “blue copays”
modality was extended .
That is, outside the regulations.
It happened in the Province in 2022, when the College of Physicians authorized those registered to charge an “office service” to patients.
It was illegal and the Ministry of Health had to intervene.
But the practice also spread – with other formats – to specialties and in different cities of Buenos Aires.
La Plata (Correspondent)
S.C.