ASK THE
DOCT R
Have a question for the doctor ? Email us at magazine @ afrocentricds . com and your question could feature in the next issue of B-Living .
Hi Dr
Could you please provide more information on bipolar depression together with the latest developments and treatment ?
S . Soodeyal
Dear Mr Soodeyal
According to the South African Anxiety and Depression Group , bipolar disorder affects approximately 4 million South Africans . Depression is usually the predominant phase in bipolar disorder and the management and treatment thereof continue to pose significant challenges for clinicians . Today , mood stabilising drugs are a mainstay treatment for bipolar disorder . Doctors may prescribe an anti-manic drug , anti-psychotic drug or a combination of both in order to alleviate symptoms of depression without triggering a manic episode .
For many years , psychiatrists have traditionally added an antidepressant to a mood stabiliser if a mood stabiliser alone seemed ineffective ; however , research shows that antidepressants are often not effective for bipolar depression . Mood-stabilising medication works on improving social interactions , mood and behaviour and is recommended for both treatment and prevention of bipolar mood states that swing from the lows of depression to the highs of hypomania or mania . In some patients with bipolar disorder , a mood stabiliser may be all that ’ s needed to modulate the depressed mood . However , in bipolar patients who do not respond to one mood stabiliser , another mood stabiliser or an atypical antipsychotic is sometimes added to the treatment regimen . Because each case of bipolar depression is patient-specific , the best course of action is to consult closely with your doctor to ensure that the treatment prescribed will meet your individual needs .
Good morning Doctor
At the end of 2016 , I was advised that Bonitas members will have to pay a 30 % co-payment at certain hospitals . I ’ m on BonSave which doesn ’ t have a hospital network so I ’ m a bit confused as to how this works .
William Dear William
We negotiate rates with hospitals to ensure our members benefits stretch as far as possible to prevent out-of-pocket expenses . Last year we negotiated with the three largest hospital groups in South Africa with a view to creating a network of designated service providers to ensure the lowest possible increases , to keep costs down while maintaining the sustainability of the Scheme .
The negotiation process included agreeing on the tariffs charged for all hospital services used by members , as well as assessing the quality of service . Bonitas used its increased size , due to the amalgamation with LMS , to its advantage and was able to negotiate more favourable hospital tariffs for the 2017 benefit year and beyond .
However , we were unable to strike a favourable deal across all of Life Healthcare ’ s facilities . For this reason we excluded 14 Life Hospitals from being DSPs . This meant that members could go to other network hospitals in their area or pay a 30 % co-payment if admitted to one of the 14 excluded Life Hospitals .
Please note : Life has since waived the co-payment and it will no longer apply .
Disclaimer : The advice included above is for information purposes only . It is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor or medical practitioner . We strongly urge you to consult with your family practitioner before embarking on any health treatment or programme . All information has been checked by Bonitas Clinical advisor .
Page 87 Bonitas Member B-Living Magazine Issue 20161 , Issue 20173