The Jordan Insurance Federation (JIF) has joined several other associations to file a law suit, challenging a regulation issued by the Jordanian Medical Association (JMA).
The new regulation, gazetted on 31 December 2018, covers a health insurance administration scheme said to have been established unilaterally by the JMA.
Mr Majed Smairat, JIF chairman, said the scheme had been rejected after intensive meetings among affected parties because of its negative impact on the health insurance sector in the kingdom. He said that joining the JIF in the law suit are organisations like the Jordan Association for Medical Insurance (JAMI), National Association for Consumer Protection and the General Union of Jordanian Trade Unions.
The scheme would lead to more costly medical care with increases of an estimated 25-40%. Costs will rise because the scheme provides for higher salaries for medical practitioners and the adoption of a new medical fee list by the JMA.
Institutions and large businesses would be reluctant to provide medical insurance to their employees and their families because the financial costs under the JMA system would be significantly higher, said Mr Smairat.
The system requires insurers to pay all amounts due to doctors to the JMA, which would deduct 10% for wages for the cooperative fund and transfer the rest of the fees to doctors after three months.
Pay and fees
Separately, Mr Fawaz Al Ajlouni, JAMI secretary general, said in a press statement that the JMA scheme provides for new pay levels for doctors without reference to health insurers. He also said that the scheme gives absolute powers to the JMA to set medical fees, reported Al Rai.
These various issues between health insurers and doctors have been festering for some time. Last year, there were reports that the JMA was negotiating with JAMI over higher doctors’ fees to keep pace with inflation.
Besides looking to increase doctors’ remuneration to cope with inflation, JMA has also been seeking to update a list of medical procedures to be covered by health insurance. M