Administration and Managed Care change: Libcare

1 Administration and Managed care change : LibcareAs a staff member, you will probably know that Liberty recently acquired Vmed, a health Administration company in Cape Town. Vmed was started with the assistance of Neil Harvey and Associates (NHA), in order to offer Administration to medical schemes using their top-class Medware system. ESimplifying ComplexityLiberty has also concluded a deal with NHA and is awaiting the approval of the Competitions Commission as the final step in the process. This will mean that Liberty Health will own the Medware system and the company that maintains it, too. This system is widely regarded as the best health insurance system in South Africa and is already used by a number of administrators with well over lives between vision for Liberty Health is to use this state-of-the-art IT system, within Vmed, to provide cost-efficient Administration to medical schemes, private health insurers, health maintenance organisations, corporates, multi-nationals and governments, both within South Africa and other global growth markets.

2 Vmed has already shown that it can provide a cost-effective service to staff and clients without surrendering on quality; and now, Liberty plans to expand that next obvious step is to move the Administration of Libcare and the Liberty Health Medical Scheme to Vmed. The proposals made by Vmed to the boards of both these schemes were accepted and they have given notice to Medscheme, the current administrator. The Administration of Libcare will move to Vmed effective 1 October 2008, with the Liberty Health Medical Scheme to follow on 1 November members can rest assured that there will be no disruption to service, though, as Medscheme was already using the same Medware system.

3 There are, however, a few things to note:E Libcare member numbers will not change neither will the call centre number: 0800 12 2273 (0800 12 care ).E Existing Libcare membership cards remain valid, although refreshed cards with all your latest particulars will be posted to you in Separate communication regarding the new Libcare website will be distributed to you Vmed will be expanding the functionality that is available to members on the new Libcare website. Exciting new features will allow members to easily manage and monitor their medical aid benefits, usage and claims. Members will be contacted to assist them in registering on the new site after 1 October of the Administration of any medical scheme is its Managed care .

4 This all happens behind the scenes at Vmed because the system Careware is also provided by NHA and is part of its complete IT-platform offering. This is good for:E cost containmentE maintaining quality standards and comprehensive management of hospital benefitsE ensuring that access to care , process of care and outcome are all Managed by the same provider; andE fewer long-term complications in terms of risk managementAlthough Vmed and NHA are separate entities, they will both be part of Liberty Health the brand you will see marketed into the future. We will keep you updated with the preparations and progress made over the next few months. Look out for future communications in this Liberty Health TeamThe Administration of Libcare will move to Vmed effective 1 October 2008, with the Liberty Health Medical Scheme to follow on 1 November 2008.