HEALTH BENEFITS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 155, 27 March 1939, Page 10

HEALTH BENEFITS

Services Under Social Security Act MENTAL PATIENTS FIRST Order Of Introduction Announced The order of introduction of the health benefits under the Social Security Act was announced on Saturday by the Minister of Health, Mr. Fraser. Benefits applicable to mental patients are to operate from April 1. Maternity benefits will come next, and May 1 is aimed at as the starting date for these. Hospital benefits are expected to follow the maternity benefits. Medical and pharmaceutical benefits will subsequently be introduced together.

‘•Naturally enough, a great deal of interest is being manifested »n the question of the commencing dates of the medical, hospital, and other treatment benefits which it is proposed to provide under Part 111 of the Act," said the Minister. Considerable Negotiations. "The arrangements for the benefits involve considerable negotiation with doctors .and others who are to provide the actual service to patients, it being necessary in most cases to conclude contracts in very specific terms. It is for this reason that special provision was made under section 79 of the Act giving the Minister of Health the necessary power to determine the date (not earlier than April 1) on which any of the several classes of benefits are to be made available. ‘‘As that section expressly provides the commencing date of each class of benefits as determined by the Minister is to be ‘the earliest possible date on which arrangements for their effective administration can be brought into operation.’ Mental Hospital Treatment. "Benefits in respect of mental hospital care are to commence on April 1 ; that is to say in respect of maintenance and treatment in Government mental hospitals on and after April 1 no charges will be made. Any fees that have accrued before that date will, of course, be recoverable in the usual way. Maternity benefits are to be the next in order of introduction. The terms and conditions which are to form part of the respective contracts with doctors, midwives, and maternity nurses and private maternity hospitals have been settled on, and the law draftsman is at present engaged in putting them into formal order. He also has in band the relative regulations.

“Within the next fortnight it is hoped to place these formal term,? and conditions of service before doctors and others concerned, and to invite them to enter into contracts accordingly. Endeavour has been made to ensure that the terms and conditions and the remuneration payable out of the Social Security Fund are adequate and reasonable, and it is anticipated that there will be a prompt and favourable response from all those eligible to enter into contracts for the respective services. Maternity Benefits. “Making due time allowance for the receipt of formal acceptances and for the publication of names of those who have contracted to provide service, the commencing date for maternity benefits at present aimed at is May 3. "Hospital benefits, i.e., benefits in respent of hospital treatment in public ami private hospitals and other approved institutions will, it is expected. follow maternity benefits. “Medical benefits and pharmaceutical benefits are inter-dependent and will therefore be introduced together. However, the completion of arrangements for these benefits has necessarily io stand aside whilst endeavours are being directed to the other main benefits.”

TO TRANSFER TO AGE BENEFIT

Subsidized Workers Aged 60 Years Or Over By 'felegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, March 26. It is officially stated that scheme No. 13 men, 66 years of age or over, will be dismissed on March 31, and they are expected to transfer from sustenance or employment pay to the age benefit under the Social Security Act. Altogether, between 2000 and 3000 men are affected throughout the Dominion.