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Daman launches SMS alerts to track medical requests

The National Health Insurance Company, Daman, has launched an SMS service to alert members on the status of their medical service authorisation requests.

With the launch of this system, it is now easier for Daman members to keep track of requests as members will receive an SMS notification once Daman receives an authorisation request from a provider, and another upon Daman’s response.

“By implementing the SMS alert systems, members are made aware of when we have logged the request and when we have responded to it - minimising the potential for confusion, and in the process, making it easier for members to follow up with medical service providers on authorisation requests,” said Daman’s chief information officer Peter Bauer.

To comply with regulatory privacy standards, the SMS will only include the last four digits of the membership card and the authorisation reference number for easy follow-up.

This service is available to Daman’s 2.4 million members and is part of its drive to increase transparency in the healthcare insurance system.

“On an average we receive between 90,000 and 95,000 authorisation requests per month, so this service will benefit a large number of our members,” said Daman’s chief medical officer Dr Jad Aoun.

Responses to authorisation requests will vary depending on the urgency and nature of the procedure being authorised, the insurer said. Life-threatening emergency cases do not require a prior authorisation for treatment.

olivia@khaleejtimes.com