Brasília – The DPU (Federal Public Defender’s Office) sent official letters to committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate. These letters included a report on the unilateral cancellations of health plans by health insurance companies. The purpose was to support a possible request for an audit at ANS (National Supplementary Health Agency) due to possible omission in oversight, reported Folha de S. Paulo.

The audit request was made with the TCU (Federal Court of Auditors). In the report, the DPU details its actions. It tries to ensure the maintenance of contracts terminated with signs of irregularities. The report recommends continued coverage of treatments for the elderly, people with disabilities, people with rare diseases, pregnant women, and people with serious disorders. This applies regardless of whether they are hospitalized.

In this process, the Public Defender’s Office sent an official letter to the president of the House of Representatives, Arthur Lira (PP-AL). They requested information about an alleged agreement. This agreement would have been formulated on his initiative together with health insurance companies. According to the DPU, no attachments were found in the lawsuit that represent a response from the House of Representatives to the court requests.

In the report, the DPU recalls that the ANS is responsible for regulating and monitoring supplementary health insurance companies. It must guarantee the protection of consumer rights. It should ensure that the provision of services is appropriate and follows the standards that govern the sector. The report highlights that the lack of firm action by the ANS in the face of the abuses “demonstrates the urgent need to submit this agency to an audit to review and monitor its regulatory policy.”

Source: Folha de S.Paulo