The Bermuda Health Council has updated its payment structure to make emergency medical fees more predictable.

A spokeswoman said an amended medical and dental charges order came into effect on Wednesday to better align the way doctors and dentists are paid for acute care services with global standards.

She said that a new code was added to the MDCO to “create more structure for emergency and complex care coverage”.

The spokeswoman said: “This ensures that specialists responding to urgent, life-threatening situations are supported within the regulated system, giving patients greater confidence that critical care will be delivered without delay.”

She added that the changes would help to prevent “surprise bills” for patient families, support critical services in emergencies and align fees with global challenges.

The spokeswoman said: “This modernisation follows the same structured methodology the health council has used to update other regulated fees across the health system, an approach that has helped stabilise healthcare costs over time.

“The council recognises that insurance premiums have continued to outpace the actual cost of healthcare and is actively collecting and analysing data to better understand the drivers of this gap, mitigate unnecessary increases and strengthen accountability throughout the system.”

Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health, said that the modernisation would help to ensure Bermuda’s regulated fee structure reflected international best practice and supported the goal of affordability.

Ms Wilson said: “The health council’s update protects patients from unexpected charges, unauthorised balance billing, makes the cost of care more predictable and strengthens access to essential services.

“Together with reforms such as those to core benefits, mental healthcare and our local workforce, these changes build a healthcare system that puts our communities first.”

Ricky Brathwaite, the chief executive of the Bermuda Health Council, said: “Our role as regulator is to make sure the foundations of the health system are strong, transparent and accountable.

“By modernising the MDCO, we are aligning with global best practice while protecting patients from surprise costs and unnecessary delays in care.

“We are also making the system more transparent by publishing all regulated fees on the health council’s website, so the public can see exactly what is covered.”

Dr Brathwaite said the changes were part of ongoing efforts to stabilise healthcare costs, close the gap between premiums and actual care and prepare for the introduction of universal healthcare.

He added: “Every resident deserves access to affordable, high-quality and forward-looking care and this work brings us another step closer to that goal.”