BHF conference focuses on unity in the industry

It is a natural progression from last year's event which concentrated on harnessing the power of the healthcare industry and encouraging members to work together.

"Serving the medical scheme population and growing the industry is our motivation," says Dr Humphrey Zokufa, managing director of the BHF. "We play a pivotal role in the private healthcare sector, and by collectively mobilising the sector we are indicating our determination to play an important role in the government's proposed National Health scheme."

Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health, will join high calibre speakers and industry leaders as they discuss ways to achieve a viable, affordable and equitable healthcare system.

Better health, better healthcare and lower cost is the theme of a presentation by Professor Yosuf Veriava, Chairman of the Council for Medical Schemes, but it could be seen as a sub theme for the conference as a whole.

Of particular interest on the first day will be the managing of risk; the return on investment; and the results of an analysis of the impact on cost and benefit options by regulatory and systematic requirements. Dr Len Konar, member of the King Committee on Corporate Governance in South Africa and the Institute of Directors will give his unique perspective on the governance of risk in the healthcare environment.

Healthcare reform has been the focus of attention in a number of countries around the world. Giving the US perspective will be Bernard J Tyson, CEO of Kaiser Permanente, the largest non-profit health plan in the USA. From a South African perspective, Advocate Paul Wayburne will focus on the NHI and the Constitution - Balancing the rights of 8.5 million medical scheme members with the rest of the population in his address.

Delegates who are turning their attention to the healthcare market across our borders will not want to miss presentations that focus on doing business in Botswana, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Namibia and the prospects for improving access and efficiencies in health delivery in SADC countries.

There will also be a parallel workshop dedicated to forensic management within the region, addressed by two international experts, Ross Kaplan, Head of SAS Fraud Practice Healthcare, and Jim Gee, Director of Counter Fraud Services, BDO LLP and Chair of the Centre for Counter Fraud Studies at the University of Portsmout

Other programme highlights include:

• A view from the Registrar of medical schemes on: consolidation; self-administered schemes; member activism; and, amendments to the MSA.
  
• A panel discussion on gaining efficiencies through proactive and reactive forensic interventions, including: quantifying fraud at an industry level; provider profiling; and, predictive analytics. To be addressed by both local and international forensics experts.
  
• An address on innovations in funding models for biologicals.
  
• A perspective from Iona Dhladhla of Bowman Gilfillan Attorneys on an industry negotiating forum for coding, tariffs and funding guidelines.
  
• Michelle David, Director at Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa, on challenges facing trustees, including remuneration levels, recent judgements and fiduciary duties.
  
• An analysis on the impact of health insurance products on medical schemes.
  
• Managing quality through profiling.
  
• Professor Alex van den Heever, on the Competition Commission's Inquiry into the private health sector.