DOCTORS’ PROPOSALS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19980, 4 July 1939, Page 14

DOCTORS’ PROPOSALS

MATERNITY BENEFITS CHANGE OF ATTITUDE DIRECT FEE PAYMENTS (Special to the Hpi-nld.) AUCKLAND, last night. Two radical departures from the previous attitude cf the New Zealand branch of the British (Medical 'Association toward the maternity benefits clauses under the Social Security Act are revealed in a circular issued to all members by the branch. The circular, which has been forwarded to all divisions u*.id bas been considered by most of them, recommends among other things that fees shall Ibe paid direct to the practitioner out of tire social security fund and that amendments shall be made to the Act. bringing all doctors within- its scope for maternity services. A Meeting on Wednesday Replies from all the divisions will be considered at a meeting of the National Health Insurance Committee of the association in Wellington on Wednesday. It is understood that most of the replies received so (far have recommended the adoption of the revised .proposals and their submission to the Government for approval.

A circular from the Wellington division of the association to its members, which will be discussed by them, contains a clause which has given rise to some dissatisfaction among Wellington practitioners. The circular states that at the last meeting of the council it was decided to make a further call of 20 per cent of the total amount promised by members to the national health insurance fund. This had become necessary to enable the fund to reimburse some members who had lost maternity cases through not accepting contracts for medical services in connection with maternity benefits. Members are -asked to regard the demands as urgent. Council’s Amended Scheme

The amended scheme submitted by the New Zealand council for discussion by branches suggests fixed medical fees for normal cases and some common abnormalities, but .suggests some variation according to the type of service rendered, and also makes provision for consultants and anaesthetists.

The second clause, which is probably the most important proposal, recommends that the fees payable from the fund shall be paid direct to the practitioner. The association has apparently abandoned its proposal .for a cash payments to the patient.

It is recommended that usual fees and special fees shall be defined by agreement between the association and the department, subject to arbitration if necessary and to readjustment at certain intervals to avoid the permanent fixing of fees. Amendment of Act Suggested If specialists are engaged a further fee may be charged and recovered from the patient direct above the amount to be recovered from the fund. The .final clause of the circular is probably the most radical, as it asks that the Act should be amended to give effect to the proposals. The effect of this clause is to remove from any practitioner attending maternity cases the right to come in or stay out of the scheme and make it obligatory fbr him to come in.