By The Star Staff
Former General Workers Union President Gerson Guzmán López on Wednesday denounced the inefficiencies in the privatization of billing and collections in the Medical Services Administration (ASEM by its acronym in Spanish) at the Puerto Rico Medical Center in San Juan.
“A little over two years ago we called on Gov. Pedro Pierluisi to stop the privatization process of the ASEM Billing and Collection services,” Guzmán López said in a written statement. “Unfortunately, time has proven us right.”
Guzmán López said the problems of collecting payments for services rendered have not improved with the contracted private company, according to a recent report by the Office of the Comptroller of Puerto Rico. The report also points out the lack of management in collecting fines that the private contractor must pay for noncompliance.
“Our call remains the same: not to renew any contract for Billing and Collection services,” Guzmán López stressed. “The personnel who performed this task are available and with their level of excellence, they will assume the responsibility for the benefit of the people of Puerto Rico.”
Guzmán López insisted that the cost of paying the private contractor could be used to reduce the operational deficit, expand services and improve the employment conditions of the staff, avoiding a repeat of the problems experienced in other privatized services, such as electricity.a
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