Maternity Benefits Outlined

Northern Advocate, 28 April 1939, Page 9

Maternity Benefits Outlined

t Per Press Association. Copyright.'] WELLINGTON, This Day. In a statement today on the maternity benefits under the Government's Social Security scheme the Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Fraser, said: “There will be, I believe, general agreement that the provision of efficient service in relation to maternity is one of the most important objectives that can be aimed at in any national health scheme. In view of that fact the Government in its implementing of health services of the Social Security Act, has concentrated first of all on the maternity benefits section of Part 3, The Contract Issues. “It, can be confidently assumed that the service provided for in the regulations, and the contract issues at the beginning of the present week, aiming, as it does, at the provision of doctor, nurse and maternity hospital, for .all mothers is a very big and most -important step forward in the interests of the mothers of New Zealand and one, as far I know, in advance of anything else. “It is to be hoped, therefore, and indeed it is anticipated, that hospital boards, medical practitioners, nurses, private hospital licensees, and the general public will co-operate wholeheartedly in making the maternity benefits section a great success, so that the full values of its provisions can be shared in future by all mothers.

“The terms and conditions that are to form the basis of the respective contracts have been fixed by me, as Minister of Health, and these terms and condition? have been embodied in three separate documents, one for the licensees of private maternity hospitals, one for the medical practitioners, and one for the obstetric nurses, i.e., midwivear and maternity nurses. “Eaqh of these documents constitutes an offer to those concerned to enter into a contract for provision of the relative class of maternity benefits.

Completion of Contracts. “It is considered reasonable to asK those concerned to complete their contracts by May 4, as it is timed to make available on May 10 the list of those who have entered into the contract. '

These lists will be published by advertisement and otherwise, so that the women in need of ante-natal advice and attention, as well as those approaching confinement, can be informed which medical practitioners in their locality are available to give free medical services, including the advice, care and attention provided fcr under the Social Security Act. “When the lists have been made available, and the appointed dates for the commencement have been announced, patients desirous of taking advantage of the various benefits must of course select from the relative lists, in addition to doctor, the private hospital, or obstetric - nurse from whom they desire to receive services. PUBLIC MATERNITY HOSPITALS. “Class I—Benefits afforded in public maternity hospitals. The fluid will pay to any hospital board ih respect of day or days of labour the amount of £2/5/-. In respect of each of the 14 days succeeding the date of ihe birth if the, child, 12/6 per day. In respect to any patient actually attended durfng labour, and at the delivery, by a medical officer employed by a board, an additional fee of £ 12. No charges will be made against patients for the period of treatment in respect cf which the board is entitled to payment from the fund.

LICENSED MATERNITY HOSPITALS ' Class 2—Benefits afforded in a licensed maternity hospital. Fees payable from the fund to licensees of private hospitals who have entered into contracts are, in respect of the day or days cf labour, an amount of £2/5/ ; in respect of each of the 14 days succeeding the date of birth of the child, an amount of 12/6 per day. Provision hes been made for private licensed maternity hospitals to be grouped into two lists- -d) those who contract t,o accept payments from the fund :a full settlement cf their accounts for *he da? or days of labour and the sulsequent 14 days; and (2) those who contract to accept the sum payable from the fund in partial settlement. It will be seen from a consideration of the amount payable that even in those cases where a maternity hospital licensee accepts the sum payable from the fund only in partial settlement, there will be left but a small additional sum payable by the patient.

MEDICAju PRACTITIONERS. “Class 3.—Benefits afforded by medical practitioners: All registered medic'al practitioners are eligible to enter into contracts with the Minister under terms and conditions that have been fixed. A perusal of the terms and conditions will show that every effort has been made to provide the best type of service, and to be fair to both doctor and patient. The fee, which covers 'ante-natal services, attendance at confinement and postnatal services, is £5. From inquiries I have made I am informed this exceeds the average cash collection for maternity services by doctors today. This fee must be accepted in full payment for services required under the contract, with the exception that an obstetric specialist whose practice is wholly or

to maternity and gynaecology is enmainly devoted to maternity work, or titled to charge an additional fee, to be agreed upon between patient anc himself.

“Services in relation to maternity cases provided under the contracts

include attendance for concurrent disease or injury, that is in any Way due or connected with pregnancy or laoour, but does not include the operation known as Caesarean section, nor the services rendered in the capacity of consultant, assistant, or anaesthetist.

Patients hace complete freedom of choice as to which maternity benefit practitioner shall attend them. No mileage fees are payable either by the fund or by the patient for distances less than two miles in the country or less than four miles in a city or borough in which there is resident a maternity benefit practitioner.

“Where a patient is unable, because of the condition of her health to attend at a doctor’s rooms, mileage fees for distances in excess of those mentioned .are payable by the fund at the rate of 2/6 per mile from the place where the patient is visited to the consulting rorns or residence of the nearest available maternity benefit doctor. In a case of emergency the doctor who attends is assumed to be the nearest available practitioner. If a patient chooses other than the nearest maternity benefit'doctor, mileage fees in excess of any payable from the fund are the liability of the patient. There is provision, however, that the mileage fee chargeable directly to the patient shall not exceed 2/6 a mile counted one way, unless the medical officer of health approves a higher rate in special circumstances. Moreover, mileage cannot be charged in respect of the first two miles in the country or in respect of the first four miles in a city or borough, “The co-operation of the medical profession will make the services of a doctor available to a big majority of New Zealand women during pregnancy and confinement. This is a big step forward, and an important one, for not only does it ensure a high standard of attention, but it also has been long recognised that optimum pain relief can only be given under medical supervision. OBSTETRIC NURSES. “Class 4. —Benefits afforded by obstetric nurses: Provision has been made for the payment of obstetric nurses attending those women who wish to be confined in their own homes Fees payable to obstetric nurses for services during labour and the subsequent days are paid by the fund, and no nurse who has entered into, a contract is permitted to accept additional remuneration for that period. The fee payable on the day or days of labour for a midwife acting in the capacity of a midwife is £2; for an obstetric nurse acting in the capacity of a maternity nurse, £l. For the subsequent 14 days, payment to an obstetric nurse is to be 13/- a day.

These fees are to any obstetric nurse who gives full-time attention to one patient. She is required to reside with the patient and the patient is required to provide her with board and lodgings. For visiting obstetric nurses, the fees for the day or days of labour are as above, 5/- a day for each of the three days immediately succeeding the date of birth of the child, and 2/6 for each of the 11 days thereafter. “In addition to these fees for nursing services, an obstetric nurse is entitled to receive from the fund a refund of any actual and reasonable locomotion expenses incurred by her in giving her services, except that the i.mount refunded shall no'J exceed £1 unless approved by the Medical Officer of Health.

“Arrangements are being made foi the early issue of leaflets on the subject of maternity benefit for the guidance of expectant mothers, and explanatory statements are also being prepared for the guidance of those providing services. THE COST.

“Though it is estimated that the provision of these benefits will cost the Social Security Fund upward of £500,000 every year,' I am satisfied that the people of New Zealand will agree that the money is well spent, and will give wholehearted support to the scheme.”