1. ReLPAG
Recognition of Life Long Learning
in Psychology Action Group
DISTURBING NEWS
We have just received very disturbing news from Bonitas Medical Aid. They
have informed their members that no consultations with an Educational
psychologist will be covered for adult beneficiaries - individuals aged 21
years and older. See the attached letter from Bonitas in this regard.
Bonitas have now followed the example of both POLMED and GEMS.
http://media.wix.com/ugd/ba2731_1cd1c291adfe433f8042e3e46e0c35b6.pdf
http://media.wix.com/ugd/ba2731_35b9b552b42f4cfb96580fb155232cc9.pdf
All members need to understand why these Medical Aids acted this way.
They stopped payments to Educational psychologists on the advice of the
Council for Medical Schemes (CMS). See last sentence of page two:
http://media.wix.com/ugd/ba2731_c77fee4f7f484fc7b444a2773abd9c67.pdf
The CMS interpreted the Promulgated SOP of psychologists as published in
Sept 2011. This act was promulgated and signed by the Honourable Minister
of Health after it was submitted by the Professional Board of Psychology
(PBP) of the HPCSA.
A letter, compiled by Mr John Smyth of JASA, as per the link below has been
sent to Bonitas and Medscheme today.
http://media.wix.com/ugd/ba2731_07908d78bb2947259d3f46b6312d28cc.pdf
As ReLPAG members are all practicing psychologists we know that with each
Medical Aid who stops making payments to our practices, our budgets are

2. getting tighter, but now more than ever, we have to stand together and win
this Court case because this is the only option we have left as our livelihood
is now threatened more than ever.
We certainly realize how difficult it is for each of us to contribute to the Court
case, but it is our only option because most of the other Medical Aids are just
awaiting the outcome of the Court case to also make their decision regarding
payments to all non-clinical psychologists
WE URGENTLY NEED YOUR DEPOSIT BEFORE THE COURT CASE
STARTS
PLEASE make a contribution of R1 000.00 (One Thousand Rand).
Should you not be in a position to afford R1 000.00, any amount
that you can afford will be gratefully received.
Make a contribution equivalent to the value of a ONE hour therapy
session (to set an example in this regard, all of the Ex-co members
have been doing so since December 2012).
In the case of a positive outcome and we are awarded costs,
ReLPAG members will be refunded proportionally to their financial
contributions to ReLPAG once such costs have been paid by the
respondents. Our legal team has explained to us that the legal
costs which might be recoverable by ReLPAG, will be less than our
actual expenditure - the costs are taxed according to a legal tariff,
and only a proportion is awarded.
The banking details for all contributions are as follows:
Name of bank: NEDBANK
Account name: ReLPAG
Branch name: Lynnridge Mall
Branch code: 198 765
Account number: 1618051156
Please FAX your deposit slip through to Dr Kobus Scholtemeyer,
Chairperson of ReLPAG at 086 218 1370. Please retain your slip for future
reference. If you pay via the Internet, please use your SURNAME FIRST,
followed by your initials as a reference. Strict bookkeeping of all financial
contributions received will be adhered to by our treasurer, Mr Kevin Fourie
and if applicable, you will be reimbursed proportionally to your contribution
should the total amount received not be utilised.

3. We would like to point out to you that the Ex-co members of ReLPAG do
NOT receive ANY compensation whatsoever for their activities on behalf of
the members of ReLPAG. We have to take time out from our practices to
attend, amongst other, meetings with our legal team in Cape Town to draw
up the documentation required by the lawyers, to communicate with
members willing to submit statements on our behalf, to write the
communiqués, etc. (Our travel costs are sometimes covered, but not always,
not our loss of income, time-out-of-practice, etc.)
Kind regards
THE EX-CO MEMBERS (NO[1]
)
[1]
Nommino Officium: In this and every other document, this abbreviation indicates that these
executive members of ReLPAG are acting in their capacity as executive members and are in
total not responsible and therefore indemnified in their personal capacity.