Govt quiet on details of temporary medical plan

Press, 2 July 1985, Page 1

Govt quiet on details of temporary medical plan

PA Wellington Details of a new temporary scheme to cover the 200,000 children and 476 doctors in the child medical benefit subsidy, ruled invalid by the High Court, were still under wraps last evening.

The new arrangement will affect only those who had been taking part in the scheme criticised by Mr Justice Vautier in the High Court last week. It will take effect under section 117 of the Social Security Act, the same section under which the Minister of Health, Dr Bassett, initiated the original scheme.

But the Acting Prime Minister, Mr ' Palmer, earlier said the new arrangement would not be capable of being made universal, “which was the fatal flaw in the view of Mr Justice Vautier.” Dr Bassett last evening delayed and then cancelled a press conference to outline details of the new plan after Cabinet approval. A spokesman in his office said the press conference had been postponed until today as the new arrangements were still being drawn up and had not been signed. A three-page statement with few details was issued and the spokesman said Dr

Bassett would not make any further comment until today. Dr Bassett said in the statement that the new arrangement would be available to the doctors who had been members of the original scheme and wished to continue.

A payment of $10.25 for each child consultation would be available and patients would have to pay a maximum of $4. These figures were announced in the Budget and were to have taken effect from August 1, replacing the $9.50 child G.M.S. benefit and a $3 patient payment. Dr Bassett also said he would meet the Medical Association’s chairman, Dr John Broadfoot, and other representatives on Friday to begin negotiations on a different system allowing a new children’s G.M.S. to be extended to all child patients of all doctors. Such a scheme would be introduced by legislation, he said. The Government was prepared to consider all

alternatives. Dr Bassett said he hoped the medical profession would co-operate and accept the Government’s intentions to provide better health care for all children. Many children benefiting from the old scheme were in areas of real need, such as rural Northland, South Auckland, Hamilton, Bay of Plenty, Hutt Valley, Porirua, and the West Coast, Dr Bassett said. “We are not prepared to let these children’s fees rise unduly,” he said. The Government respected the rule of law and would abide by Mr Justice Vautier’s decision. However, it did not agree with the judgment and the Cabinet had decided to lodge an appeal to the Court of Appeal. Dr Bassett said he would not discuss the issues in the decision, saying the proper forum was now the Court of Appeal. He did not propose to make any further public comment on the judgment. Further report, page 2.