The relationship between Health workers and key social work in Buenos Aires are once again under strain. IOMA disputed the non-payment reported by the Platense Medical Association (AMP) regarding the benefits and described the situation as “extreme institutional gravity”, which is why he announced the initiation of administrative and legal action. The medical sector responded and confirmed its claim.
The controversy erupted after the La Plata Doctors’ Union announced yesterday its decision to suspend the services of the Institute of Medical Assisting Work (IOMA) from zero o’clock due to non-payment of benefits owed since October, which affected the outpatient care of members in the area.
The AMP has taken this action because IOMA has failed to meet payment deadlines and has been holding Codes 88, the system through which highly complex medical practices are billed, in limbo since September. This situation prevented the association from settling and paying the fees to the professionals as stated.
Answer from IOMA
IOMA yesterday denied that the relevant amount had not been transferred. “On Friday, December 12, the payment of more than 4,000 million pesos in medical fees was made to the Platense Medical Association (AMP), thus timely honoring the commitment made to the authorities of this institution,” it said in a statement.
Likewise, it was alleged that, despite the payment made, the medical facility in La Plata “did not cancel the announced reduction in benefits, resulting in a situation that the IOMA considers unjustified, unreasonable and of extreme institutional gravity.”
The social welfare agency denies that there are legal restrictions that justify delays in payments to skilled workers. In this sense, it was explained that the cut-off times established by banking institutions are internal operating rules, the exceeding of which may delay accreditation until the next working day, but “in no case” prevents transfers or justifies the withholding of funds or the suspension of services.
Consequently, it was noted that “it is neither acceptable nor justified to argue an alleged ‘lack of solvency’ when the resources are already fully credited to the AMP account and available for immediate distribution.”
Meanwhile, it was noted: “The possible delays in the accreditation of funds are not due to legal obstacles or limitations of the financial system, but are due solely to administrative, operational or financial decisions made by the association, which are outside the responsibility of this institution.”
In this context, the IOMA warned that the situation and the arguments of the Platense Medical Association “may constitute an irregular management of resources for a specific purpose”. For this reason, social work will ask the judiciary to investigate the matter “to determine whether there has been any misappropriation, unjustified withholding or improper management of public funds for the payment of medical fees and to determine the responsibilities that may apply.” The application of sanctions is also not excluded.
Doctors reject the accusation
The organization that brings together La Plata doctors rejected “the false accusations” made by IOMA.
“The multi-claimed funds were transferred after 3:30 p.m. on Friday (the evidence they consider relevant proving the time of deposit will be made available to the control bodies), a circumstance that made the classification, management and transmission of the funds to the contracted doctors impracticable,” it said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the AMP rejects “the unfounded allegations” and “reiterates its absolute belief that it has acted in accordance with the interests of professionals.”
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