FEES OF DOCTORS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20086, 4 November 1939, Page 12

FEES OF DOCTORS

SOCIAL SECURITY PLAN

MATERNITY SERVICES NEW SCALE OPERATIVE (Pit Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The acting-Minister of Health, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, announced last night that an agreement had been concluded with the council of the Nev; Zealand branch of the British Medical Association as to the scale of fees payable from the social recuritv fund" for medical services afforded

in relation lo maternity benefits, and that the scale came into force on October L These determinations mean the new scheme for medical services, in relation to maternity, as embodied in the Social Security Amendment Act passed at the end of September, is now being brought into operation. The most important feature of the scheme is that it does not necessitate the making of contracts between the Minister and individual doctors.

The scheme provides that every doctor undertaking maternity work in the course of his practice will be entitled to receive payment from the fund in respect of his services, according to the scale of fees fixed. Such fees from the fund are to be accepted by the practitioner in full satisfaction of his claims in respect of the relative services, except that a practitioner, who is offiei illy recognised as an obstetrical specialist, will be permitted to charge the patient an additional fee. Made Retrospective

As the sc'no :ie has been made retrospective to the beginning of October, U will be understood in any case where the practitioner is, in the near future, recognised officially as an obstetric specialist, his right to charge additional fees to the patient will operate from the commencement ot the scheme.

Any practitioner who is unwilling to provide services in accordance, with tiie scheme may, by giving notice to that effect to the Minister, place himself outside the operation of the scheme. In that c\tnt, his services will not be the subject of any payments from the fund, and will be wholly chargeable to his patients. If any practitioner docs give notice in the near future ot his unwillingness to provide services under the scheme, such notice will be operative from the date ot the commencement of the scheme.

The only other circumstances in which medical services ip relation to maternity will not be the subject ol benefits are in cases where a patient, for private reasons, notifies a practitioner that she docs not wish to receive medical treatment by way of maternity benefits, and in cases where a patient is not entitled to such benefits because she is mot ordinarily resident in the Dominion. Consultant Services Other features of the scheme are that it .provides for medical services in relation to miscarriage, provided the natient has received approved ante-natal advice before the occurrence and also for anaesthetist and consultant services in relation to maternity, though these services arc r.ot specifically mentioned in the Act.

The scale of fees, which has just been fixed, contains definitions . of the scope and content of the services that are ■ the subject of maternity benefits, and stem, are being taken to issue a leaflet for the information of patients explaining what services are so included and what are the responsibility of the patient. For instance, the supply of drugs, medicines, materials and appliances to patients is not covered by the benefit and, until the pharmaceutical benefits are introduced, the patient i a expected to pay for these. Indefinite rules have been laid down in the scale of fees as to the circumstances in which mileage lees are payable and as to the basis on which they are to be computed. The effective operation of the new scheme will complete the lull range of maternity benefits contemplated in the principal Act.