HOSPITAL FEES

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 188, 7 May 1931, Page 8

HOSPITAL FEES

Accident Treatments

LIEN ON INSURANCE

Conference to be Held

Combined action Is likely to be taken by the Counties’ Association, Municipal Association, Hospital Boards’ Association, and Farmers’ Union in pressing for legislation which will secure to hospital boards a right of lien against any insurance moneys payable in respect of accidents where hospital fees are involved. A combined meeting of the four bodies concerned is to be held at the end of the present month, when the attitude of the various sections of the community represented by these organisations will be fully discussed by their representatives at the conference.

At yesterday’s meeting of the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union advice was received from the Hospital Boards’ Association that it would be glad of the co-operation of the union in pressing for the necessary legislation. “It is believed,” said the association in its. communication, “that the insurance companies are sympathetic with the proposal, but as the law stands at present they must, for their own protection, pay direct to the injured persons only. There appears to be no valid reason for withholding the legislation which the hospital boards are seeking, as it would not adversely affect hardship cases and would be the means of collecting very large sums of money from persons who are able but unwilling to pay.” Losses Considerable. As an indication of what hospital boards were up against the association mentioned that the losses incurred to two small hospital boards in one year, on account of unrecovered fees of accident cases under the Workers’ Compensation Aet (persons without dependants able but unwilling to pay), were in the case of the Taranaki Hospital Board £1044, and in that of the Hawera Hospital Board £1053. “All will agree that this question is a most important one,” said the president, Mr. W. J. Polson. “It is quite evident that a great many able to pay their hospital fees do not pay. If hospital dues could be made a first charge on any insurance for injury there would be a great relief to hospital rates. There should be some amendment to the law whereby insurance companies paying out should first satisfy the claims of the hospital.” . The secretary, Colonel J. Pow, mentioned that a conference was to take place between the Counties! Association, the Municipal Association, and Hospital Boards’ Association, about the end of the present month, when a discussion was to take place on the whole question. He thought the Farmers’ Union ought to be represented. - The Plea oft Poverty. . Mr. C. C. Jackson, of Wairarapa. said the greatest difficulty was that patients pleaded poverty. He thought he was safe in saying that very few magistrates would give judgment in cases where poverty was pleaded. He moved that representations should be made to the authorities urging that hospital dues should be a first claim on insurance moneys. Mr. Jackson’s-'motion was carried.’ Messrs. Jackson, H. B. Stuckey, of Dannevirke, and Polson, were appointed to represent the union at the forthcoming conference.