PAYMENT OF DOCTORS’ FEES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 92, 12 January 1939, Page 8

PAYMENT OF DOCTORS’ FEES

No Difficulty In Wellington

BOYCOTT OF DEFAULTERS NOT CONSIDERED

Wellington doctors who were interviewed yesterday have not experienced any difficulty over the payment of fees by patients, and it was stated that there is no suggestion in Wellington of doctors boycotting patients who fail to meet their accounts. It has been reported from New Plymouth that doctors there were alarmed became patients had ceased to pay bills because of the Social Security Act. It was understood that several New Plymouth doctors might “black-list” those patients and refuse to take them on their panels. ' “.So fa r as my practice is concerned, I have not experienced any difficulty,” said one doctor in Wellington. “I have heard no suggestion from anybody else, nor have I contemplated drawing up a ‘black-list’ myself.” • Another doctor said this was a difficult time of the year. Many people were away on holiday and accounts were not met quite so readily as at other times. There was no suggestion, however, of people holding off their payments because of the Social Security legislation. The idea of boycotting patients was news to him. “I have not noticed any change in my practice, and there is no suggestion of a ‘black list,” said a third doctor.

“I have noticed that accounts were not met so readily as previous accounts, but this was probably due to Christmas and people spending a lot of money,” said another. “I have not heard any remark about a boycott of non-paying patients,” he added.. “I have not even heard any suggestion of people holding back their fees.” Still another doctor said he had not noticed any difference. People were paying their fees as usual. “I have not heard any talk of a ‘black-list among my colleagues,” he added. “There is no suggestion of boycotting people for not paying their accounts, nor have I talked with anybody who has made that suggestion.”