Government prepares to review health benefits

Press, 16 January 1986, Page 7

Government prepares to review health benefits

PA Wellington The Minister of Health, Dr Michael Bassett, will begin a health benefits review within the next two weeks — once initial details are settled, the “Dominion” reported yesterday. Preliminary discussions had started at Cabinet committee level, he said, to clear proposed review members and to approve the terms of reference. Dr Bassett said the review’s terms of reference would be the widest possible. They would even cover the philosophy underlying the State’s contribution to health care. Review members would have academic backgrounds and experience in healthrelated areas. Present benefits began in 1939 with the maternity grant, but soon included general medical services benefits, specialist, physiotherapy, dental and hospital benefits, accident compensation, radiology and others. The State imalvement ranges from p»ng full

costs to paying less than 10 per cent of the cost. Dr Bassett said he expected a two stage report from the review committee before August. He rejected a suggestion by the Labour member for Dunedin West, Mr Clive Matthewson, that a nublic review of the entire health system was likely. An over-all review or task force would be too time-consuming, Dr Bassett said.

Mr Matthewson had raised the possibility of a wide-ranging review but Dr Bassett said he preferred a series of reviews on health services, which would amount to the same thing. The health benefits review was a starting point. The apparent confusion about a reiew has been further complicated by statements by the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, who has also talked of a major review of the health services.