DOCTORS’ BILL

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 7, 3 October 1941, Page 8

DOCTORS’ BILL

Details Of Amendments Explained RECOVERY OF FEES Amendments to the Social Security Amendment Bill promised by the Minister of .Health, Mr. Nordmeyer, were introduced into the House by GovernorGeneral’s message. •■The alterations are just as I indicated on Tuesday night, except that where friendly societies are concerned there has been inserted a clause that now places beyond any possible doubt that the doctors may give service to the societies as they have done in the past,” the Minister said. “I do not think there was any doubt in the original Bill, but the. clause removes anv possible obscurity.” The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Holland: Is there anything about remitting the fees of the societies? Mr. Nordmeyer: There was in the original measure, and the offer to the friendly societies still stands. _ . The clause mentioned by the Minister when he was referring to friendly societies excldes from general medical services under the Bill any services provided by a doctor under an agreement with a friendly society or branch. Other amendments outlined by Mr. Nordmeyer earlier this week are embodied as he described them, _ but a clause restricting doctors’ rights to charge fees in excess of the amounts payable from the social security fund is omitted, and two new clauses are included.

One states that where a doctor is entitled to receive from the fund any sum for general medical services or for pharmaceutical requirements provided, he may, instead of claiming payment from the fund, recover that amount from the patient or the person responsible for his debts. Where any person pays a doctor for general medicax services he may receive from the fund a refund of the amount, provided that it does not exceed the sum the doctor would have been entitled to be paid from the fund.

A doctor who receives payment from the patient is required to give a receipt to enable the patient to claim on the fund. The second new clause restricts the doctor’s right to recover fees to the rights- specifically given in the Bill. ■ f . . • .