IrishMedicalNews

Vhi announces hospital-in-the-home service

Written by Lloyd Mudiwa Monday, 30 November 2009 15:57

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Vhi Healthcare is to launch a hospital-in-the-home (HITH) service in mid-February next year, similar to the one abandoned by the HSE, to provide an alternative to hospital care.

Initially, “Vhi Homecare” will provide HITH facilities to Vhi customers attending the six major Dublin hospitals, according to the insurer.

It is expected that over 1,000 Vhi customers will be treated in the comfort of their own homes during 2010.

Vhi will provide treatment to patients who have been identified by their consultant and homecare team as suitable for treatment in the home under the programme and who typically require intravenous therapy.

Conditions including pneumonia, lower respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection, cellulitis (severe inflammation of the skin), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), will be covered.

The referring hospitals eligible for cover are Beaumont Hospital, St James’s Hospital, St Vincent’s University Hospital, the Mater Hospital, Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, and Tallaght Hospital.

The HSE discontinued its HITH scheme, launched in 2007 to provide chronic illness patients with clinical and nursing support in their homes in order to avoid attending hospital or to reduce the length of hospital stay, in April 2008. This was despite a review that it provided a valuable alternative to hospital care. Cost was believed to be a key factor in its abandonment.

Meanwhile, QUINN-Healthcare announced last week that it would increase its prices by an average of 15 per cent for 2010. The company claimed  the price increase is a direct result of the Government imposed health insurance levy, and called on the Government to remove the levy, saying if the levy were removed it would freeze its prices for 2010.

Mr Dónal Clancy, QUINN-Healthcare General Manager stated: “The Government is charging €160 per adult whether you are on a higher priced plan or a low cost starter plan. The levy represents 48 per cent of the premium for the cheapest product in the market and just six per cent on higher level plans.

“If the Government increases the levy in the forthcoming budget, unfortunately we will be forced to pass this increase on to consumers through additional price increases. Of course, if the Government sees sense and decides to reduce or remove the levy altogether, then we will pass those savings on to our consumers.”