HOSPITAL FEES.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19202, 7 January 1928, Page 12

HOSPITAL FEES.

FRIENDLY SOCIETY MEMBERS

[THE FKESa Special Ssrrice.]

WELLINGTON, January G,

Arrangements have been made for holding a conference in Wellington on January 26th, of representatives of Friendly Societies, Hospital Boards, and the Department of Health, to consider the question of the treatment of Friendly Society patients in general hospitals, and if possible to formulate the terms of an agreement for adoption throughout the Dominion. v

At present the agreements in operation in the several districts vary considerably in their terms. A few Boards havo arrangements with Friendly Societies for the receipt of an annual per capita sum per member ranging from 12s 6d to £l, entitling the member (or his wife or children) to free treatment in hospital up to a certain maximum. In the majority of cases, however, the Friendly Societies undertake payment of a proportion of the ordinary charge, in somo cases half the fee throughout, in others half fees for adults with no reduction for children, in others upwards of 75 per cent, of the >■ usual charges. In two cases a fixed annual rate per occupied bed-is charged whether for an adult or child patient.