KCUS charged a pensioner 2,300 KM, but returned the money after a complaint!

The family of Esad Mehmedagić, a pensioner from Sarajevo, was forced several days ago to pay 2,300 KM to the Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo for diagnostic tests, even though he was insured, members of his family told the Bosnian news agency Patria (NAP). However, as we have learned, the money was later returned to them without explanation, just as it had been demanded!

However, the family suspects that everything was not above board, given that they were asked for an urgent payment over the phone, under the threat that the patient would be discharged. They have a receipt issued to them to support their claims, which they provided to the Patria agency.  

Esad was admitted to the Gastroenterology Clinic at the beginning of May, and doctors determined that Mehmedagić needed an ERCP procedure which includes a „papillotome, Terumo guidewire, and basket“. Esad's daughter Aida told NAP that they then received an urgent call from KCUS and immediately contacted the on-duty doctor, who informed them that this test must be paid for.

- At that moment, we didn't even think about the money, because it was important to us that our father was well. But when we went down to the cashier's office, we were told we had to pay 2,300 KM. My father has health insurance, and we were confused – says Aida Mehmedagić.

Additional confusion was caused by the fact that a patient from Olovo, who was in the hospital with her father, had already had that test done but had not paid a single mark.

- What hurt us the most was when we received a call from KCUS in the morning asking us whether we would pay for this test or whether we should discharge him home. My brother immediately ran and paid, but what if we hadn't had that money, does that mean my father could have died up there – adds Aida.

After they paid the money, the Mehmedagić family contacted the Patria news agency, after which journalists sent an inquiry to KCUS. Only then did the Clinical Center inform them that they would return the money, but without a clear explanation of why the service was charged.

In their response to the Patria agency, KCUS stated that so far, costs for the mentioned tests have been charged to three patients, but that a refund process is underway.

- The procedure for refunding money to patients is currently underway, because the University Clinical Center Sarajevo will take over the financing of expensive consumables used in performing the tests for these patients. This type of service is not part of the basic package of healthcare rights. Each canton has its own basic package of healthcare rights, including the Canton of Sarajevo – says Muamera Šehić, spokesperson for KCUS.