HOSPITAL DISCOUNTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 29, 27 February 1909, Page 6

HOSPITAL DISCOUNTS.

CONCESSIONS TO FRIENDLY SOCIETIES. DISCOUNTS FoiTpROMPT CASH. A deputation consisting of Messrs. X. E. Hamerton, F. Amoore, aud J. HHobbs, representing the executive of the Taranaki Friendly Societies' Association, interviewed the conference of hospital board delegates asking for a reduc tion in the charges to its members, in view of the Association guaranteeing the payment of the accounts. Mr. Hamerton pointed out that the deputation was submitting a business proposition that should be mutually 5..: ] isfactory. If a man couldn't affom to i pay hospital charges, these were lost to i the Board. Thus, if a member of the Friendly Societies' Association couldn't pay, the Board lost his fees. Here was where the Association came in. Under certain conditions they were prepared to pay the members' hospital charges direct to the Boards, but unless the Association could get sonic concessions they would merely pay the money out to the member concerned and allow him to please himself whether or not he would pay. The Friendly Societies' Association would thus have performed the duties for which it was formed—that ol reimbursing to the patient his hospital fees.

Mr. Hobbs pointed out that it was far simpler and easier for the Boards' secretaries to collect from the Association, who would guarantee the money, than to go on billing the member .himself, tbus taking the chances. The Association, would be a collecting agency for tie Boards, on, say, a per cent, basis.

Mr. Amoore said that no doubt the Association was in a bad odour with some Boards on account of mismanagement in the past, but now the Association had been reorganised and reconstructed, and it had a substantial credit balaace with which to back up its undertaking). The "' muddle " of the past had ceased to «»st, and the Association's business was being conducted along business lines. He mentioned, too, that in Stratford district the Friendly Societies had inaugurated a Hospital Sunday, from which the Stratford Hospital had received over .£IOO. Mr. Sutten said that Mr. Hamerton had expressed the opinion that hospital boards could not sue for fees. Mr. Hamerton said that was not what he said. He had said there was no law that could make a man pay who had not the wherewithal to pay. Dr. Valintine suggested that the depu tation should approach the Boards on a fair actuarial basis. Then they would be asking no favour of the hospitals. It ■would be necessary to place before an actuary the number of members in the lodges, their ages, the average amount of sickness in the lodge, with a view of ascertaining the "risk of sickness." Mr. Hamerton said that age had nothing to do with it. They were not asking for a death levy, and were asking no favours. They were here on a bigness mission. Was it worth while for the Boards to make a concession for prompt cash. They didn't care about actuaries or anything of that kind. Mr. Amoore objected to Dr. Valintine's remark that the deputation was asking favours. They were asking for something, for which they were prepared to give something in return. In answer to Mr. Marx, Mr. Amoore said that the Association was prepared to pay the hospital charges of its members, who were members of friendly societies, contributing an outside payment of a couple of shUUngs a quarter. In nearly evtry case the whole lodge joined the Association. There were about 1100 fnembers. Mr. Bellringer thought that only the members in comfortable circumstances would pay this extra hospital levy, leaving the ''dregs," so to speak, for the hospital boards to collect from. In answer to Mr. Marchant, Mr. Amoore (as secretary to the Association executive) said they would be content to accept the 25 per cent, reduction on the public scale of charges and to guarantee cash payment. Their rules stipulated, of course, that in operation cases the Association could only pay one guinea of the medical fees for operations. If an operation cost more than one guinea, the charge should be levied upon the patient himself. Mr, Sutton said that on several occasions the Hawera Board had had to pay from £2O to £SO for the engagement

of specialists from Wanganui and elscwhete. But it seemed that the Associa tioa would not recognise any liability there. Mr.-Hamerton: Who has paid these amounts to date? Mr. Sutton: The hospital. Mr. Hamerton: Well, I don't see that it will he any hardship for you to do it for any of our members. In answer to Dr. Valintiue, Mr. Amoore said there was nothing in the rules to prevent the Association making a donation to the hospital funds in the event of a member being submitted to an abdomenal operation, where three or more doctors were an absolute necessity. Mr. Bellringer moved that the Boards take into consideration the granting of a reduction of 20 per cent, upon the usual fees to the Association. Mr. Sutton seconded pro forma. He said the only danger was that the pre cedent set up might prove awkward. Mr. Marx would oppose the motion entirely. Tie conference had just decided to maintain a certain fee, and now proposed to reduce it. There was nothbg to prevent any family, or any organisation, coming forward with the same request. It resolved itself into this, that the Association set itself up as a better debt-collector than the Board* were. He would vote against tne motion. The Chairman wa3 satisfied that the Board would get a lot of money from the Association that would be lost if the Association paid to the patient, for the patient might not be so anxious to pay. Mr. Bellringer, in reply, saJd he knew of two cases in New Plymouth where the Association had reimbursed niemlicr-. and the accounts were still unpaid, fie would like to see the system tried for a year. As a safeguard against the abuse of such a concession, he thought the Board might refuse to consider any similar application from any body of less than a thousand members. Mr. Marehant said he would have given hie hearty support even if 23 per cent, had been suggested. The Friendly Societies had his sincere admiration, for they' were bodies of men aud women ,who banded themselves together, not only for paying hospital fees and sick pay, but also for the maiutena-jee of dependents of their members incapacitated through illness. Such organisations deserved the hearty support of everyone. Mr. Marx gave notice that if the motion were carried he would move that the Boards be recommended to allow a similar concession to all cash-paying patients. The motion was carried, and Mr. Marx's proposition was adopted also, allowing a 20 per cent, discount on all sums paid within a month of the account falling due. Stratford delegates dissent td. For the convenience of the secretaries in assessing discounts the conference resolved to fix the cash discount at a shilling a day. Thus the charges will be six shillings a day for all patients, reducible to fire shillings for cash or upon the Association's guarantee.