The Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) of the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro (Alerj), designed to investigate health plans that unilaterally cancel contracts with people with disabilities, decided this Thursday (12) that all those responsible for local representations of the Unimed system, which covers the largest number of beneficiaries in the state, will be summoned to testify.
The decision was made by the chairman of the committee, congressman Fred Pacheco, after testimony from Unimed-Ferj’s legal manager, Carlos Finhani. He gave testimony in place of the company’s president, João Alberto da Cruz, who, although summoned, said he would not attend the hearing.
The executive stated that the company is only legally responsible for its clients and those of Unimed-Rio, whose beneficiaries were absorbed in April of this year. Therefore, it does not have the power to make decisions or propose solutions on behalf of the other Unimed representatives that serve the rest of the state. “If Unimed-Ferj cannot be responsible for individual companies, then we will call each of those responsible for them so that we can forward solutions and commitments in order to preserve the lives of the beneficiaries,” stated Pacheco.
Finhani acknowledged that there are failures in compliance with court decisions against the unilateral cancellation of contracts and payments to accredited professionals, as a result of the absorption of the portfolio of around 480 thousand beneficiaries of Unimed Rio, which had entered into a Fiscal Management Regime by the National Health Agency (ANS).
For this reason, Unimed-Ferj has committed to creating a direct channel with the Alerj Committee for People with Disabilities. According to Finhani, the action aims to resolve more serious cases within 24 hours.
“I would like to remind you that everyone who testifies here is committed to telling the truth. If this promise is made, we will forward the cases and demand an immediate solution,” explained Pacheco, who also chairs the Committee for People with Disabilities.
During the 5th Ordinary Meeting, it was decided to extend the CPI for another 60 days. The original deadline for the conclusion of the work was September 29th.
