MEDICAL CHARGES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2554, 31 August 1915, Page 6

MEDICAL CHARGES

AND ;THE FRIENDLY SOCIETIES. • 'At- the invitation of the -medical profession interested in friendly societies a- : . conference of: delegates. of.-the local societies met Drs. Gilmer .(chairman),' Pattie, and M'Evedy last week to discuss proposals put' forward; by tlie medical men in;, a- new agreement.. In , .brief, '.the _ new agreement 'provides for .increases in certaiii fees paid to lodges' vdoctors. One new charge, ior example, is one of 3s. 6d.- for reexamination of a'member,.whether suoh member passes or -n0t..,;, That is to . say, a. meinber- might through misfortune; become unfinancial, and after' ; a two or. three' months' period off the books might wish to pay up and rejoin.; .?. In . such ..'cases. heretofore' no. ■■ .charge?:for re-examination has, been -. made. :S'ow the doctors require 3s. 6d., For-attendance at patients' own address-in answer-to an urgent call made;'prior'to;, 1.0,a:m.: the doctors (we are informed) ask for 245. per member' instead of los. as at present. The charge for confinements, is ■ said to bo £3 3s. instead- of .£2 2s. as at present. ■ Clause • No.' 17 reads as follows Surgical operations requiring an anaesthetic and' work usually performed by specialists (ear, .nose,' eye; etc.) shall be paid by the: member, fi»d the fee for such : shall be. a matter for private arrangement bofcwecn. the member and the operating surgeon." This is . stated to bo a-new departure. Siic'h treatment has been included in tho 1 ordinary schedule of, ailments and attended to without extra charge. Another, new charge proposed is a special fee of os. for calls between 8 p.m. and 8 a.ni. in the case of ;confiiiements,, premature birth, and kindred troubles'. Clause-25 provides that the trustees are to help tho medical officers. in , collecting moneys payable . for •mileage or for any attendance. ■ The projibsals of the medical frater- ' nity are said to, have created; something 1 approaching consternation in the camp of the friendly societies, . where tho general opinion is that the increases are inopportune.;- '