FAQs
- Can you offer all pills/injections/infusions available in the US?
TMPB can offer 85-90% of brand name non-controlled, non-generic products offered in the US
- If a patient is a single parent can they bring their children?
No problem – “Everything Is Better in the Bahamas For Children and Parent! “
- Does your infusion center offer Non-Chemo infusions?
Yes. Certified physicians and oncologists are available onsite to oversee all infusions.
- Why did you decide to enter the US market with your high-value cost containment strategy?
As big-ticket drugs ($40,000 plus per year), especially for the myriads of fast track orphan drugs that gained approval in the US market, Dr Conville Brown saw an opportunity to use UK government pricing and the capacity of his state-of-the-art facility only 30 minutes from Florida to save substantial dollars for US payors and their employees/union members.
- What if the insured does not have a passport?
Our medical concierge will use a US national company to fast track a new or replacement passport for the insured and significant other. The same medical concierge will arrange and pay for: plane tickets for two / luxury hotel for two / $200 per day travel expense allowance and transportation to and from the hotel/airport and TMPB.
- Does your center offer Radiation Therapy? My mom’s health plan does not cover palliative radiation.
Yes, we offer a full range of radiation including palliative – in 2015 we became the only center in the Caribbean to be accredited by the by the American College of Radiation.
- Will you take private pay patients who have very high deductibles or who have off-label uses written by their US doctors, but not approved by payors?
Yes, if recommended by their US doctor and approved for use by their TMPB physician specialist.
- How do you insure the quality of all brand-name drugs?
Pharmaceutical items are purchased from the manufacturer or a licensed distributor/medical facility. All items are shipped to the Bahamas by DHL using cold chain packaging when required.
- What if there is a drug recall?
No problem. TMPB has full chain of custody to the manufacturer just as in the US.
- Do you have malpractice insurance?
Yes, both doctors and facility have malpractice insurance, written by Lloyds of London.
- What other services do you plan to offer in the near future?
Unlike Mexico and Caymans, TMPB can utilize US trained doctors on short-term Bahamian medical licenses. We plan to add to our overnight surgical center state-of-the-art microscopes to soon have US subspecialists do Cochlear Implants and Neuro Implants for Epilepsy, Parkinson’s and Essential Tremors at a substantial savings to payors.
- How does the patient communicate with the TMPB concierge prior to, during and after their visit to TMPB?
During the patient’s visit they will be given a Bahamian cell phone to call the medical concierge, TMPB and back to the US for free. Prior to, and after their visit, the patient can call the medical concierge or TMPB via a toll free US 800 number.
- How does the TMPB doctor decide what prescriptions to write and have filled at the TMPB pharmacy?
The TMPB doctor only writes prescriptions for expensive drugs taken currently where the employer and patient will save substantial dollars. The patient, prior to their visit provides the TMPB medical concierge with the names of all prescription drugs/infusions currently taken by the patient and significant other covered under the insured’s medical insurance. A copy(s) of the most recent blood work and a list of any allergies is also requested. The TMPB doctor does not write prescriptions for any drugs not taken currently by the patient.
- What is the claim flow process?
Payor wires money to TMPB who then wires money to our UK purchasing office which sends patient’s brand name pharma item(s) by DHL to TMPB’s specialty pharmacy – cold chain packaging if required. The Bahamas has no duty on imported pharmaceutical items.
- What are the benefit requirements and what has to be changed in the plan document?
Employer / welfare plan documents need to allow foreign travel for medical treatment and the waiver of deductibles and copays for nearshore medical care. By writing these exceptions into one’s health plan, this should meet the disclosure needs of Stop Loss carriers.
- What is the most interesting opportunity you have seen since NMS started?
The seven million insureds who are insulin dependent. Insulin prices have spiraled up by almost 100% in just the last five years. We can serve about 50% of their patients if we review all drugs taken by all family insureds – if more than $10,000 per quarter, we can offer the 2-night medical vacation for two with a substantial savings for the employer. Insulin is brought on board on the return flight in a small DHL cold chain package.