MATERNITY BENEFITS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 August 1939, Page 6

MATERNITY BENEFITS

MEDICAL ASSOCIATION PROPOSALS

MODIFICATION OF PREVIOUS

SIMPLIFIED ADMINISTRATION

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) NELSON. This Day

Interviewed regarding the nature of the proposals which the medical profession has formulated. Dr J. P. S. Jamieson (president of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association) stated that the associations proposals now piit forward were a modification of the previous offer, which the Government rejected. to operate the maternity benefit as a cash benefit to the patient. The present offer, like the former, was devised specifically to eliminate the individual contracts and regulations which had proved an obstacle to the Government’s present scheme. In brief. Dr Jamieson explained, the fresh proposals stipulated for payments to doctors for maternity service from the Social Security Fund on proof of service. The payments were for usual and special services and additional professional assistance when required. The scales of these payments are to be agreed upon and periodically revised. They would be in full satisfaction, except that in the case of recognised specialists, additional private fees were to be recoverable, any patient to have the right at will to make private arrangements outside the scheme, and any doctor to have the right to enter into such arrangements.

The general effect of this arrangement. Dr Jamieson added, would be that, maternity work would proceed as hitherto, but patients who wished to avail themselves could have the medical costs of it defrayed by the Social Security Fund. No panel lists, no contracts and no committees were required, and the administrative machinery would be at a minimum. In conclusion, Dr Jamieson said the profession was prepared to undertake the work on this basis, provided that the existing legislation was amended to give effect to these proposals in lieu of the Government’s scheme and that the amending legislation, including regulations, was first submitted to the association and agreed upon.