Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs) are the basic benefits that GEMS provides for certain medical conditions.
What conditions should be treated as a Prescribed Minimum Benefit?
The Medical Schemes Act provides for the diagnosis and treatment of a list of conditions known as PMBs, which include medical emergencies, Diagnosis and Treatment Pairs (DTPs), and a list of chronic diseases known as the Chronic Disease List (CDL). Click here to access a list of all PMB conditions.
About Prescribed Minimum Benefits
The condition or diagnosis and required treatment must be in line with what is prescribed in the Medical Schemes Act Regulations for the PMB to be considered. PMBs are covered from your available benefits (day-to-day) and once your benefits are depleted, the Scheme will continue to pay for PMBs above benefit limits.
PMBs for members who are on the Ruby option are covered directly from risk and not from a member’s savings.
What are the Diagnosis and Treatment Pairs?
The Diagnosis and Treatment Pairs (DTPs) is a list of the 271 conditions linked to specified treatment that must be funded by all medical schemes. The DTP links a specific diagnosis to the required treatment and broadly indicates how each of the PMB conditions should be treated or managed in a hospital setting. Whilst DTPs are mostly hospital-based, there are some DTPs that are for out-of-hospital management, and of which the treatment may include acute medicines.
When determining whether to fund treatment for these conditions as PMBs, the decision is based on the provisions of the law, the level of healthcare available in the public sector, as well as the treatment and care that is best suited for the condition, whilst also taking affordability into account. A list of these conditions can be obtained from the CMS website.
What is the Chronic Disease List?
The Chronic Disease List (CDL) specifies medication and treatment for 26 chronic conditions for which medical schemes not only have to cover medication, but also doctors’ consultations and certain tests related to the condition. The CMS chose these conditions based on their frequency, severity and response to treatment, and published treatment algorithms (pathways) for schemes to use as a guideline on how to cover medicine for the 26 conditions. Medical schemes may make use of protocols such as formularies and specific providers, also known as designated service providers (DSPs), to manage this benefit. A list of these conditions can be obtained from the CMS website.
What is a designated service provider (DSP)?
A DSP is a healthcare provider or group of providers who have been selected by the Scheme to deliver to its members the diagnosis, treatment, and care in respect of medical conditions, including PMB conditions. For the purposes of claims adjudication for PMB, GEMS has selected the State as its DSP for in-hospital services. If you choose to use a healthcare provider other than a DSP for the treatment of a PMB, the scheme may impose a co-payment or limit the rate at which the claim is reimbursed.
Who are the DSPs for GEMS?
Although all GEMS members may access care from any private provider for PMB services, the level of care and services funded as PMB are determined by what is provided by State facilities. The State- hospital is the DSP for GEMS.
You should choose to use the Chronic Medicine Courier Pharmacy and/or contracted pharmacies in the Medicine Pharmacy Network to obtain all chronic medicine (including medicine for HIV) to avoid a co-payment. If you use another pharmacy, a co-payment may apply. You can choose either the Courier Pharmacy or any Network Pharmacy that is within 10 kilometres of your workplace or home, and you are required to remain with the pharmacy for a period of six months, which is in line with the six-month script cycle.
Please note:
If you choose to use a healthcare provider other than a DSP for the in-hospital treatment of a PMB, the Scheme may impose a co-payment or limit the rate at which the claim is reimbursed. To determine the reimbursement for PMB treatment provided, the Scheme will determine whether you voluntarily or involuntarily made use of the non-DSP. Involuntary use means that:
When is it a Medical Emergency?
Except in the case of an emergency medical condition, pre-authorisation must be obtained prior to the involuntary use of a non-DSP. In the case of an emergency hospital admission, a pre-authorisation must be obtained within one working day after the admission, or a co-payment of R1 000 per admission shall apply.
Will GEMS transfer me to a DSP after an emergency admission?
GEMS will transfer you to a DSP as soon as it is clinically safe to do so. If you choose not to move, GEMS will only fund the remaining treatment at 100% of the GEMS Scheme rate and could impose a copayment. In other words, claims for the non-emergency portion of treatment will be paid as with any other claim where a beneficiary voluntarily made use of a non-DSP.
To what extent are the Prescribed Minimum Benefits restricted?
The following pre-authorisation processes are in place and are a Scheme requirement regardless of the PMB status:
Treatment that falls outside of the areas listed above and is accessed in the out-of-hospital setting (e.g., doctor consultations, pathology, or radiology tests) is referred to as an ambulatory PMB (aPMB). Pre-authorisation is not required for these services as these claims will automatically be paid as a PMB where appropriate, and if the correct ICD10 codes are used. The only time a pre-authorisation is required for ambulatory PMBs is if you:
The aPMB application form
The application form can be downloaded from the GEMS website or requested from the GEMS call centre (0860 00 4367).
Please email your signed, completed form, together with any relevant information if required, to enquiries@gems.gov.za, or fax to 0861 00 4367. Your application/motivation will be reviewed, and the decision communicated to you and your treating doctor.
What is an ICD-10 code?
ICD-10 codes are standardised codes developed specifically to indicate what disease or condition you have been diagnosed with and are undergoing treatment for. Your treating provider will include these on a claim and GEMS will use the information to identify whether the claim can be considered PMB. Please note that any diagnostic information included is kept strictly confidential and will not be disclosed to anyone outside the Scheme or the organisations responsible for providing administration and/or managed healthcare services to GEMS. This coding is regulated and is a requirement for any claim to be processed.
What is a funding guideline (protocol)?
GEMS carefully manages the PMB benefit to ensure that beneficiaries are provided with good quality, appropriate healthcare that is cost-effective, affordable, and sustainable. Strict clinical guidelines and expert advice are used to ensure that the most appropriate treatment is funded.
The funding guidelines also define reasonable treatment for a particular condition. This may include specifying the number of consultations available from a GP or relevant Specialist, diagnostic tests, and other services that should be funded to treat a condition.
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