DOCTORS’ FEES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20602, 1 November 1941, Page 9

DOCTORS’ FEES

PRACTITIONER SERVICE COLLECTION SYSTEMS LODGE CONTRACTS (Special to the Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day. Discussing the operation of the general practitioner service, the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer, stated to-day that he hoped the simpler system would be carried out, by which the doctor would make the claim on the social security fund. The alternative was for the patient to make a payment, obtaining a receipt, filling in the claim form, and forwarding it to the medical officer of health, or, if inconvenient, handing it to the post office. A voucher which could be cashed at post offices would be sent to the claimant.

Asked whether the 7s Cd for day services and 12s 6d for night calls would be accepted in full settlement by the doctors, Mr. Nordmeyer said he could not definitely say at this stage, but he imagined that many doctors would recognise 7s 6d for every consultation as a very generous return for the services rendered. He understood that the doctors in some districts had decided to make 10s Cd the charge.

Discussing friendly society contracts, the Minister said it appeared that the British Medical Association had recently advised its members to terminate their contracts, under which a certain sum was paid quarterly by friendly society members, who, with their dependants, then received free medical attention. If notice to terminate the contracts was given it would still be some months before it expired, during which period the doctor would continue the service, the friendly society being entitled to secure repayment from the social security fund. In a case where the lodge had in the past paid 7s 6d towards the cost of visits, lodge members could, like any other citizen, obtain a refund of the 7s Gd, or 12s 6d for night' visits, from the social security fund. This claim could be made personally, or the member could allow the lodge secretary to collect it on his behalf, and it was understood that the lodges would make application on behalf of their members generally.