MEDICAL FEES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 22 October 1942, Page 4

MEDICAL FEES

DIRECT COLLECTION FROM SECURITY FUNDS | MINISTER'S REPLY TO QUESTION 11 From Out Own Pai liarncniary Kepoiteri Wellington, This Day. "In view of the large amount of adI ministrativc work involved in the presi ent system during the war period when ! it is essential that labour should be con- : served in every possible way, it may ! become necessary to discuss the ques- ! tion of direct collection of medical fees with the medical profession,” stated the ; Minister of Health (Mr A. H. Nord- ; meyer) in the House of Representatives i yesterday in a written reply to a quesI tion asked by Mr W. M. C. Denham | ilnvercargill >. Mr Nordmeyer said that the number j of doctors already claiming direct from ; the Social Security Fund was growing j steadily, and because of that the question of compulsion had not received consideration by the Government. The question of the amount of charges by doctors over and above the prescribed Social Security payments was constantly under review. Close investigation as to the adequacy of the amount of 7s Gql in the light of the past year’s experience was being undertaken. Considerable attention had also been given to the possibility of instituting an extended State medical service including clinics on the most modern organisational lines to supplement the ordinary private practitioner and hospital services as soon as war conditions permitted.