Prosecutor reinforces ban on security deposit requirement.

Alagoas247 - Addressed to the Union of Health Establishments of Alagoas (Sindhospital), the Regional Council of Medicine (Cremal), and all hospitals and medical clinics in the State, the MPE document explains that urgent and emergency care for health plan users must be provided immediately, without conditions or reservations, in parallel with the provision of data by patients.

Furthermore, no payments, deposits, or guarantees of any kind should be charged in advance to private patients seeking urgent or emergency care at private hospitals in Maceió. Simultaneously with the treatment, the hospital should seek information about the patient from family members.

Only after medical services have been provided and the patient no longer requires emergency procedures should the healthcare professional notify the hospital in writing that their services have been completed. Subsequently, family members or the patient themselves may be contacted regarding any financial matters.

Once this procedure is completed, treatment may continue on a private basis, provided that those responsible for payment are duly informed of the implications of the existing costs, which must be formalized in a prior commitment agreement.

For patients who do not have health insurance or the necessary authorization to receive the required service, or who do not have the financial means to pay for the elective treatment/hospitalization suggested by the on-call physician at the emergency center, or even when, despite having the means, they do not wish to pay for it, care should be provided through the Unified Health System (SUS).

“If the patient is not covered by a health plan or does not have the necessary authorization for the required health procedure, or does not have the financial means to pay for the elective treatment/hospitalization suggested by the on-call physician at the emergency center, and, furthermore, the hospital where they are receiving care is not accredited to the SUS (Brazilian Public Health System) or does not have accreditation for the specific care prescribed by the on-call physician at the emergency center, the patient should be transferred to another private center of their choice, to another public hospital of their preference, or to wherever a bed becomes available,” the recommendation states.

Hospitals and clinics in Maceió must display, in a visible location, informative signs and posters regarding the terms of the Public Prosecutor's Office recommendation, especially concerning the legislation stipulated in the Penal Code.

With gazetaweb.com