CIMAS subscribers to fork out cash for medicine

CIMAS subscribers will have to fork out hard cash for medicine, according to a circular sent by the society last week.

Roderick Takawira, the CIMAS acting managing director, said the temporary suspension of the drug facility is meant to deal with unspecified manipulation of the system by fraudsters.

Patients will be required to pay cash for drugs to providers and then claim from CIMAS.

Last week, the Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) members will now have to fork out cash when they visit service providers after the society instructed them to demand cash upfront as part of a strategy to avoid further litigation.

PSMAS is being sued by service providers for defaulting on settling claims. Members, who will visit the more than 30 health service providers who have been instructed not to accept the society's medical aid packages, will then have to apply for reimbursement.

The health service providers sued PSMAS for defaulting on settling claims, but the medical aid society said stopping them from treating patients on its medical aid was part of its strategy to avoid further litigations at a time it was facing grounding liquidity challenges.