Issue
The Medical Diagnosis Center (MDC) sector has historically lacked cohesive representation and influence in health sector public policy discussions in the Dominican Republic. MDCs have been impacted operationally and financially since health insurers have typically leveraged their influence to establish fees, in some cases, barely covering the costs of providing various diagnostic services. Additionally, the non-existence of a representative trade association had excluded MDCs from benefiting from past rate indexation negotiations, which created a revenue gap versus other health service providers.
Our Role
Working with the ownership groups of select best-in-class MDCs, FHC established a new trade association from the ground up. In parallel, FHC implemented a comprehensive engagement plan involving key stakeholders in the health sector to bring awareness to the issues most acutely affecting MDCs. Additionally, FHC devised a strategy that focused on engagement with health regulators to develop solutions to targeted issues that aligned with the association’sinterests. These endeavors positioned the MDC association as a valuable contributor to the healthcare dialogue, and as a regular participant at the National Social Security Council (CNSS) working group for health providers.
Results
To date, the efforts have resulted in the inclusion of MDCs in Resolution 563-01 issued by the Superintendence of Health and Labor Risks (SISALRIL), which increased diagnostic fees for MDCs for examinations and tests by 7%.