Doctors’ idea on fixing fees

Press, 12 April 1984, Page 2

Doctors’ idea on fixing fees

PA Wellington The Medical Association had asked the Government to consider using regulations to fix doctors’ fees, said the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Muldoon, yesterday. Sir Robert said the suggestion was “an interesting thought ... no more at the moment” He said the idea came when the association put a case to him on Tuesday for an increase in the general medical services benefit. The Medical Association’s chairman, Dr Dean Williams, said then that a $3 increase in the benefit would allow doctors to drop their fees to patients by the same amount

Sir Robert said yesterday that the association had submitted that it could not guarantee, however, that there would be no subsequent increase in fees. It had said that the Government had no power to require doctors not to increase their fees, Sir Robert said.

Suggesting regulations was putting ideas into his head, he said. Sir Robert indicated that the Government would not look '"rabl" "

look favourably on the request to raise the G.M.S. He said he did not learn anything he did not already know from the association’s visit.

“We look at G.M.S. benefits from time to time ...

and there is nothing furthei there? he said.