PSMAS Moves To Cushion Members Against High Shortfalls

The Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) public relations manager Mr. Arthur Choga, has announced that patients with chronic illnesses subscribed with the society will with immediate effect pay not more than 10 percent of the total cost of prescribed medication. The announcement follows an arrangement made by PSMAS to cushion them against high shortfalls.

The service is however available at a limited number of selected pharmacies with which the society made arrangements. Choga said:

With immediate effect, the society is reducing shortfalls on key drugs to an average of 10 percent thus allowing members to access these drugs. The drugs covered under this initiative are those for chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes and heart conditions. This arrangement only applies to selected pharmacies which we have reached an agreement with.

PSMAS said that inflation has resulted in its members parting with huge shortfalls and or co-payments. Shortfalls and co-payments resulted from an increase in service provider charges by between 100 and 50 percent over the past six months.

Choga also said that the facility was temporary therefore, PSMAS is looking forward to corrective adjustment of medical costs and subscriptions so that the society will be able to recover costs incurred under the fund.

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