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'NHI aims to pay for Govt's Peebles Hospital mistakes'– Alred C. Frett

- said the patient should never be ‘short-changed’ as a result of the new scheme
As the National Health Insurance (NHI) takes off in the territory, the owner of B&F Medical Alred C. Frett still has a number of reservations with regards to how the controversial new mandatory health insurance scheme is being implemented. Photo: VINO
In an interview on Wednesday January 6, 2016, Frett told this news site that while his health institution is doing its part to ensure that they work along with the new scheme, there are still teething problems. Photo: Internet source
In an interview on Wednesday January 6, 2016, Frett told this news site that while his health institution is doing its part to ensure that they work along with the new scheme, there are still teething problems. Photo: Internet source
Alred C. Frett said B&F Medical has been using both the NHI website as well as the hard forms to service the patients. Photo: VINO/File
Alred C. Frett said B&F Medical has been using both the NHI website as well as the hard forms to service the patients. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – As the National Health Insurance (NHI) takes off in the territory, the owner of B&F Medical Alred C. Frett still has a number of reservations with regards to how the controversial new mandatory health insurance scheme is being implemented.

In an interview on Wednesday January 6, 2016, Frett told this news site that while his health institution is doing its part to ensure that they work along with the new scheme, there are still teething problems.

“Essentially we started accepting NHI patients from the very get go on the first day of the year as we open seven days a week. So we have been dealing with them and serving them. We understand that it is going to take a little while for the patients themselves to understand what is actually being offered, because they are probably being told one thing, hearing another and looking for the best world for them.”

“What we have to tell them is as far as we know the conditions where we will see them, there is a fee schedule that we work with presently and bring them aware as to what it is. Some persons don’t know about it and they are surprised to know that there is the co-payment and there may be things outside of the fee schedule that have to be addressed. But outside of that we are working with them,” he said.

Teething problems

According to Mr Frett, it is understandable that there will be teething problems as a result of the new system. “It is no secret that I have my reservations about the NHI. But I think that it is important to give them a fair chance so that when things come up we could bring solutions and not just problems.”

He said B&F Medical has been using both the NHI website as well as the hard forms to service the patients. “Maybe in our instance we are trying extremely hard to make it work. We are probably doing it more than the norm and when we have a problem and we call the NHI they have been quite responsive,” he said.

According to Frett, the NHI was making it difficult for providers in terms of getting them ready for the compulsory scheme, but he said that this had been sorted out. “So now all persons need to do is to show that they are registered in their profession. The long drawn out process is gone,” Mr Frett noted.

'Patients should not be short-changed'

Another concern for Mr Frett was the high cost to both the patient and the employer for NHI. He said it has to be affordable in order to be sustainable. "If it will be so costly that persons can’t afford it, you create a problem right away and you are going to entice persons to probably use the card even more than they normally would.”

Frett believes that if the government is forcing citizens and residents to take something then they should at least guarantee the basics of that they need and they ought not to take it at risk to themselves. “They ought not to have to drop their previous provider to take on yours which falls short,” he said.

Frett said that at the end of the day it must be the patient who is not short-changed. “That I am concerned about because if they have to take out supplementary insurances or they have to end up paying so much more because they are not covered by the NHI, then to me that isn’t serving the purpose for them.”

He alleged that Government is using NHI to pay for its “mistakes” with the Peebles Hospital but at the same time the burden should not be borne on the backs of the ordinary citizens and residents.

18 Responses to “'NHI aims to pay for Govt's Peebles Hospital mistakes'– Alred C. Frett”

  • Xxx (07/01/2016, 08:49) Like (50) Dislike (2) Reply
    tell um Al
    • Fly on the Wall (07/01/2016, 09:29) Like (23) Dislike (1) Reply
      Thank you very much!! Heard it from the horses mouth myself.
  • cat fits (07/01/2016, 10:08) Like (22) Dislike (4) Reply
    this was seen from distance of a blind man ,wrong doing of ndp government killing you the public to help them self.jail time ministers.
    • george w touch (07/01/2016, 21:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I don't even claim to understand even a smattering of the intricacies of the NHI
  • Marie (07/01/2016, 10:15) Like (26) Dislike (5) Reply
    I am not registering for this crop that I do not under stand plus there is no laws in the BVI says every one should be register .This government think that we are their children and we have to do what they tell us to do .They rush into it for their own gain there will be fire after the smoke.
  • tretretrete (07/01/2016, 10:46) Like (14) Dislike (2) Reply
    boy first time i read a full article put up with ur talk u finally making sense, other than blocking good music at same time on ur talk shows. well done this time around on point
  • Guest (07/01/2016, 11:27) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    I thought this man was selling out on NHI!
  • ....... (07/01/2016, 13:08) Like (14) Dislike (3) Reply
    What he said makes sense except the part about paying for mistakes at Peebles or paying for Peebles, which I have been hearing many people say, but does not quite make sense in my opinion. The only sense is that if you have a hospital, you have to be able to pay your bill, else the hospital won't be able to function properly. Besides that, I don't see how in the world NHI can cover 30,000 people and still bring in millions to the Treasury.... That concept is crazy to me..... I more agree with Sowande that there is a chance that the system could be overwhelmed and could go broke, based on the number of people utilizing it. That makes a bit more sense to me. But hey, everybody has a mouth to say what they want, whether or not they can prove it.
  • Jokesters (07/01/2016, 13:08) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Check out the NHI cartoon on the upper right corner man.....if THAT AIN'T THE TRUTH!!!!! Barry is the scapegoat trying to convince the public a rhinestone is a diamond when he and all don't believe the hype!!
  • Buggz (07/01/2016, 14:19) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Now tell me where is the paper work like that for payroll tax and social security to complete for submissions of these monthly fees?????
  • Why (07/01/2016, 14:50) Like (3) Dislike (36) Reply
    Why Alred look like a para man in that picture........ lol
  • FUnhi (07/01/2016, 19:17) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    FUnhi
  • Totally agree (07/01/2016, 20:53) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Putting things into perspective, thanks Mr. Frett
  • one eye (07/01/2016, 21:00) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    NHI is emotion-driven and greed-driven, not fact-driven!!!!.
  • the eye have it (07/01/2016, 23:51) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    When you work hard to oay NHI
    1 get your teeth done
    2 physical
    3 eye examination
    And the list goes on , why hmmm
    Its a plan to grab
    Thefore we taking back all the devil has stolen from us people
    me son every 2 months go doctor and take a fix up
    t
    da wa u get for force us.
  • BuzzBvi (08/01/2016, 00:30) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Government worked out it was spending $46 Million a year on health care in the BVI.
    The Government worked out the public could be tricked into paying this $46 Million with a new tax called NHI. They now have $46 Million a year towards an airport.
    A project that will balloon from $400 Million to $800 Million, maybe a $Billion of our money to share with friends. Nice. If you are one of their friends.


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