RSA announce launch of preferred referral network
News of the new framework caused confusion earlier this year, when a letter was sent to vet practices informing them of a "change to policy conditions".
Pet insurance provider RSA has announced the launch of a UK-wide preferred network which will come into force on 22 November.
The preferred referral network framework will give RSA customers access to a network of preferred veterinary surgeons for non-emergency procedures and enable RSA to manage its claims costs.
Now the BVA and BSAVA have released a joint statement in response to the announcement, calling for vets to keep them informed about how the new policy is working in practice.
News of the new framework caused confusion earlier this year, when a letter was sent to vet practices informing them of a "change to policy conditions".
The letter said that if a pet needed to be referred to a specialist for non-emergency treatment, then the owner would need to contact the insurance company first. RSA would then work with the customer to agree on which practice they can take their pet to, depending on individual circumstances.
A further statement released by the pet insurer said that they had not made any changes to customer policies, and stressed that a number of their policies already state that a customer should contact them before receiving referral treatment.
Commenting on the launch of the network, Bill Paton, claims director for UK and Western Europe, said: “The introduction of this new preferred referral network ensures that our customers will receive the most appropriate available treatment as diagnosed by their vet.
"For us, being able to control costs with our vet partners in the network will help us manage our claims cost more effectively and ensure that policy limits last as long as possible. Ultimately, this will have a positive effect on premium rates for our customers ensuring that pet insurance remains affordable.”
In response to the announcement, the BVA and BSAVA said: "Both BVA and BSAVA recognise that there are significant pressures facing the pet insurance industry in terms of providing affordable insurance and managing the costs of claims.
"However when RSA issued their first notice earlier this year regarding policy conditions concerning cases for referral, many in the profession were understandably concerned. This is why BVA and BSAVA were pleased to participate in the ensuing, constructive discussions with representatives of RSA.
"In our recent meetings we stressed the importance of the vet-client relationship, especially with respect to clinical decision making, and we emphasised that decisions must be made in the best interest of the pet based on clinical need.
"This resulted in RSA’s agreement to make the list of preferred referral practices freely available in order to keep the decision-making authority with vets and provide more flexibility and transparency in the referral process than the original proposals."
The BVA are now asking their members in both first opinion and referral practice to keep them informed about how the new policy is working in practice. For more information please visit the BVA Community.
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