Dubai Dubai ambulance services will no longer come for free. Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services (DCAS) has just announced that it will be implementing a “self-funding strategy” which in effect means its services will now be covered by insurance.
With emergency services covered under mandatory health insurance in Dubai, all insured patients will be required to present their health insurance details at the time of using the ambulance service. In the absence of a valid coverage, DCAS will continue to provide its services on humanitarian grounds, ensuring there is no risk to the patient’s life.
Addressing a press conference in Dubai on Tuesday, DCAS executive director Khalifa Bin Darri said, “The health insurance coverage shall help in reducing government spending on ambulance and emergency.”
The revenue cycle management and medical billing service will be managed by Dubai-based ACCUMED Practice Management.
Dr Ayham Refaat, founder and CEO of Accumed, told XPRESS patients using ambulance services would not have to wait for prior approval from insurance companies.
Dr Yusuf Haidar, director of health funding at Dubai Health Authority said, “The coverage has already been included in the basic packages that extend to all initial interventions.”
To a question by XPRESS, DCAS director of medical and technical affairs Dr Omar Al Sakaf said the cost of transferring a patient to a hospital depends on the level of intervention, although the average basic cost is around Dh700-Dh750.
