MEDICAL ATTENTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 September 1941, Page 4

MEDICAL ATTENTION

AN ALTERNATIVE SCHEME BROUGHT DOWN BY GOVERNMENT. FEE-FOR-SERVICE PROVIDED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. The House of Representatives near the close of yesterday's sitting was made exceptionally alert by the introduction of the Social Security Amendment Bill, which provides an alternative scheme to the Government's original plan for the establishment of a free general practitioner service. Immediately the Minister of Health, Mr Nordmeyer, began an explanation of the measure he was bombarded with searching questions by Opposition

members as to what the Bill involved, the reaction of the doctors and whether they had agreed to the Bill. Mr Nordmeyer said he could not possibly answer them all, but he explained that the fees proposed for medical service are: Five shillings for every occasion services are provided at the doctor's surgery or place of residence: 6s 6d when the services are given at the patient’s home; ss, plus Is 3d a mile, for country visits. Replying to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, the Minister said it was impossible to assess the total cost accurately, but it was calculated that the amount would be £1,200,000 annually, as under the capitation fee first proposed. The Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Public Health Committee without discussion. The Bill provides that every doctor who gives general services for any patient after October 1, is entitled to receive fees from the Social Security Fund. In cases of visits more than 20 miles from the doctor's surgery or home, no account is to be taken of the distance travelled over 20 miles, but mileage fees at Is 3d a mile may be recovered by the doctor from his pat-

lent in respect of that part of the journey. Where a doctor supplies pharmaceutical requirements for treating a patient before they can conveniently I be obtained elsewhere he shall be entitled to receive a payment from the fund. All claims by any doctor for pay- . ments from the fund are to be made# to the Medical Officer of Health in district in which the doctor lives and are to be accompanied by a certificate from the patient that the services have . been given. Sums paid to a doctor from the fund are to be accepted in full satisfaction of his claims. Except with the Minister’s consent no doctor shall demand or be entitled to sue for any fees for services provided and for which payment may be made under the Bill unless the patient refuses to sign a certificate that he has had the treatment. Should the patient refuse to sign the certificate, the doctor shall not, except with the Minister’s consent, demand or sue for any fees in excess of the amounts payable from the fund plus mileage fees. The Minister is empoweerd to make special arrangements for the provision of adequate services where necessary. The last clause provides a fine of £lOO or 12 months’ imprisonment for any person who makes a false statement with a view to obtaining payment from the fund.