Eight new private healthcare providers have joined the National Health Insurance (NHI) network as registration continues towards the ‘Go Live’ date of January 1, 2016.

Director of the Social Security Board, Mrs. Antoinette Skelton signed the Participating Provider Agreement with Mrs. Alice Pickering of PicSmith Medical Services, Dr. Heskith Vanterpool of Eureka Medical and Bougainvillea Clinic Limited, Mrs. Jennifer O’Neal of Tortola Vision Center, Dr. Mitchel Penn of Penn Medical Center Inc., Mrs. Jean Vanterpool of Medicure Limited and Dr. Jerry Smith of Therapy Works Virgin Gorda Limited and Therapy Works BVI Limited. The contract signings took place on December 14.

Mrs. Skelton expressed appreciation and delight, describing the contract signings as a “signal of the local providers’ ongoing commitment to play a key role in meeting the health care needs of the population”.

Dr. Heskith Vanterpool spoke on behalf of the group of private healthcare providers and stated that they were pleased to sign contracts with the National Health Insurance and the Social Security Board.

He added, “It has always been a concern for doctors that certain persons were not able to access the best of health care because money is always an important factor and some people were unable to access health care on an equal basis with others. I have for some time been a supporter of the National Health Insurance idea and to see it come to fruition, I think is fantastic for the entire population of the British Virgin Islands.”

The terms of the Participating Provider Agreement states that, private providers are required to notify beneficiaries of any additional charges prior to the delivery of services, should their fees exceed the amount to be reimbursed by NHI.  Residents are also reminded to present their NHI card when accessing services from NHI in-network providers. The in-network providers list can be accessed at www.vinhi.vg.

NHI beneficiaries accessing services at community health clinics will not be required to pay for covered services. Beneficiaries will be required to pay providers through a co-payment system. That is, five percent co-pay at the public hospital, ten percent co-pay of the NHI rates at private on island facilities that are in-network, 20 percent co-pay at private on island facilities out of network, 20 percent co-pay at overseas facilities in-network and 40 percent co-pay at overseas facilities out of network. 

Other providers to sign the Participating Provider Agreements were B&F Medical Complex Limited, Dr. K. P. Adamson Limited, Premier Dental and BVI Health Services Authority.

For further information on National Health Insurance, please visit the office in the Joshua Smith BVI Social Security Building in Road Town, Tortola; telephone the office at (284) 494-3418 extension 406; email them at info@vinhi.vg; or visit the website at www.vinhi.vg.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development aspires to provide a caring and integrated system of health and social services that facilitates human development and improves the quality of life in the Virgin Islands.