VHI continues negotiations with private hospitals

1st March 2000 - VHI has been in negotiation with 23 private hospitals and treatment centres since late October ’99 with a view to reaching agreement for the current year.

To date agreement has been reached with 10 hospitals and treatment centres with negotiations continuing with a further 13.

VHI is disappointed that some of the hospitals who have not yet reached agreement should place advertisements which are to appear in tomorrow’s papers.

VHI believes that agreement with these hospitals is still possible. In recent days VHI has informed these hospitals that they are preparing revised terms for discussion in the coming days.

VHI will always negotiate the best possible terms, with all Providers including private hospitals on behalf of its members. Only by keen cost management can it ensure that members’ premiums are kept to an absolute minimum. We want to negotiate the best quality healthcare at the best price for our members.

VHI wishes to assure its members that it will attempt to reach agreement with the hospitals so that the best possible facilities are available nationwide at all times.

On behalf of our 1.5 million members, we urge the hospitals concerned to return to the negotiating table. Their action is wrong and premature.