Circular 39 of 2023: Healthcare Utilisation Annual Statutory Return
The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) hereby publishes version 10.0 of the technical guideline document for completing the Utilisation section of the 2021/2022 Annual Statutory Return (ASR).
The ASR Healthcare Utilisation system is operational, and medical schemes are encouraged to submit data by the deadline listed in the table below. Medical schemes should take note of the following crucial data submission deadlines, which are intended to allow medical schemes ample to gather the data and ensure accurate and complete submissions.
| Deadlines | Description | Due date |
| Electronic data submission | The deadline for electronic submission of schemes data | 03 November 2023 |
| Feedback reports | Feedback to schemes on data submission and possible resubmission of data | 06 November 2023 |
| Resubmission of data | Resubmission of data due to errors identified in feedback reports | 10 November 2023 |
| Final signed-off report | Final report signed off by PO and Trustees | 17 November 2023 |
Please note that no changes have been made to version 10.0 of the technical specification documents. Version 10.0 of the technical guideline document should be read in conjunction with the following updated documents.
- ASR Data Specification v10.0: This workbook contains the layout and field type definitions for the data tables.
- ASR Valid Codes v10.0: The reference workbook containing tables with valid values for certain key columns specified in the ASR Data Specification v10.0.(If schemes find codes that do not appear on the valid code lists, they should inform us so that we update the lists)
- Guidelines for the Identification of Beneficiaries with Risk Factors in Accordance with the Entry and Verification Criteria Version 15.1.
- ASR Data Specification Appendix A v10.0: The Appendix should be used only as a guideline for identifying utilisation statistics and is not necessarily a complete list of codes used in the industry. Please inform the CMS in case you become aware of any missing codes (excluding “in-house” codes) by sending a list of such codes to lion@medicalschemes.co.za
- List of Validation rules V1.0
The final signoff report can be electronically signed, if the scheme has the option available, however, schemes may submit the scanned signed document to the CMS by 17 November 2023 to b.khuzwayo@medicalschemes.co.za.
Officials from the CMS will be at hand to address all technical queries relating to the updated Healthcare Utilisation Data specification document.
Download the Circular here.