As the Governor announced before the Legislative Assembly, Obra Social is advancing in the digitalization of outpatient care and confirmed the extension of membership to children of regular members up to 30 years of age. Coverage of oncological treatments is also incorporated into the Transplant Fund.
Through Decree Agreement No. 398/24, the Executive Branch partially modified Law No. 3509 creating the Social Work for Public Employees (OSEP) and Law No. 5116 of the Special Fund for Transplantation. This represents, in the first case, an update of the regulations that were enacted in 1979 and that were already obsolete in their application. The modification goes hand in hand with the digitalization of outpatient care through the OSEP Móvil Catamarca app that Governor Raúl Jalil announced on May 1, before the Legislative Assembly, at the beginning of a new period of ordinary sessions. All of this as part of the modernization process carried out by Obra Social.
Regarding the main modifications established by the decree agreement, the following are detailed:
● Voluntary affiliates: a) Voluntary beneficiaries may be those sons and daughters over 21 years of age who are studying in official or private establishments until they are 30 years old.
b) In accordance with the Civil and Commercial Code, the figure of cohabitation is added as sufficient proof to prove the coexistence between the voluntary member and the regular member. At the same time, the current requirements will remain in force for cases not registered in the Registry of Cohabiting Unions.
● Social Work Funds: a) The item known as “Solidarity Contribution” is eliminated and is included in the mandatory discount of 4.5% of the total salary of the regular member, which will be made up of remunerative and non-remunerative assets less the family salary.
b) 4.5% will be retained on the total complementary benefits to the beneficiaries of the General Administration of Pension Affairs (AGAP), plus the 9% that will be in charge of the Executive Branch.
It should be noted that the decree agreement seeks to adapt the reality of the Welfare Projects within the framework of the current economic and social situation, to ensure correct and efficient provision of services to all its members.
*Extension of the Special Fund Law for Transplantation*
On the other hand, Law No. 5116, better known as the Special Fund for Transplantation, was also modified, which will be renamed “Special Fund for Transplantation and Oncological Treatments,” through decree No. 395/24.
This fund will no longer only be used to exclusively finance transplant benefits, but also to cover and provide for oncological treatments, including high-cost medications, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and referrals.
The fund for transplants and oncological treatments will be made up with a contribution of 0.5% of the total salary of the regular member, excluding family salary. Meanwhile, for voluntary members, individuals and members by agreement, the contribution will be 0.5% of the minimum, vital and mobile salary. It is important to highlight that before the modification, said group of beneficiaries only contributed the ridiculous sum of 4 fixed pesos.
Finally, the fund will be segmented into 50% to cover all the benefits that a transplant implies and the other 50% to cover the benefits, provisions and coverage related to oncological treatments.
