MEDICAL FEES

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 252, 26 October 1942, Page 3

MEDICAL FEES

METHOD OF COLLEGTION. AMOUNT OF THE CHARGES. The questio'ii of the compulsion of medical practitioners to collect their fees direct from the Social Security Fund, also of preventing doctors from charging their patients fees higher than those prescriped by the Government, was discus'sed by the Minister for Health, Mr Ncrdmeyer, in i eplving toi Mr Denham (Government, invercargill). Mr1 Nordmeyer said that in. view of the large amount of administra.tive work involved in Ihe1 present system during the war period — when it. was essen.ti$l that labour should be- conserved in every possible way — it might become necessary to discuss the question of the direct collection of medical fees with the medical profession. The number of doctors claimlng direct from the Social Security Fund was steadily growing. In view cf that fact the question of compulsion had not reeeived consideration by the Government, The question of the amount of the charges bv doctors over and above the prescribed social security payrnents was constantly under review. Close investigation as to the adequacy of the prescribed amount of 7s 6d in the light of the last year's expenditure was being under taken. Considerable attention, had also' been given to the possibilitv of instituting an extqnded iState Medical Service, including clinics, on the most modern lin.es to supplement the ordinary pri-vat-e practitiO'ner* and hospitai services as soon as war conditions psrmitted. REFUND OF ,SPECIALISTS, FEES. Another question asked by Mr Denham was whether part refunds of special istS,! fees applied to persons on the lists of doctors operating the capitation schemie and who may have occasion to visit speeialists. Mr Nordmeyer reiplied that the answer was "Yes." All persons, including those on doctors' capitation lists, or on the lists of friendly societies obtainmg refunds of medical contributions, or those residing in special areas set up under tthe medical benefits scheme, would be able to obtain refunds for speeialists' services in the same manner as those who did not come under those categcries. In other words, all people nbrmallv resident in New Zealand might now claim a refund in respect. of speciaiist services. V