HIGHER FEES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24084, 1 October 1941, Page 6

HIGHER FEES

MEDICAL SERVICE I PATIENTS MAY PAY CHANGES IN SCHEME NO RIGHTS TO SUE (S.R.) "WELLINGTON, Tuesday Major alterations to the Social Security Amendment Hill, including a higher basic fee and power- for a doctor to accept a fee from a patient instead of from the Social Security fund, were announced in the House ol l'c|ncsentatives to-night by the Miuistel ol Health, the Hon. A. H. Xordmeyer. He said the alterations would he embodied in amendments to be moved during the coninfitteo stages. "I intend in committee to move a number ot amendments, some of which will affect the bill considerably," .Mr. .Xordmeyer said. "It may help discussion at this stage of the bill if I indicate to the House now the niain amendments that will be moved in committee. Operation From November 1 "It «ill be obvious to members that (he date (October 1) named in the bill as the commencing date ol this scheme will have to be altered, and the Government has decided that the scheme will operate as from November 1. "Another important series of amendments will ensure that where a doctor does not wish to claim directly from the Social Security Fund the patient may pay him the amount of his fee and obtain a receipt and recover from the Social Security Fund at his local post office the amount fixed as the fee in the bill. The two methods of payment will be included in the measure. Increased Basic Fee "A third amendment alters the basic fee," the Minister continued. "In the measure before the House th n fee is 5s for a consultation and 6s Gd for a visit to the home within any borough or city area. It is now proposed that the basic fee be 7s 6d for either a consultation at the surgery or a visit to the home. The mileage fee will remain at Is -3d a mile. "It is also proposed to include in the regulations to be issued in terms of this bill provision for payment of 12s 6d to the doctor for a night call between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. The regulations will also provide for the basic fee to be increased in cases where the attention given by the doctor is unusually time-consuming. Not Entitled to Recover Fee "The fourth important amendment : s to clause 9A of the bill," Mr. Nordmeyer said. "It is proposed to strike out the words 'demand or accept' from the clause, which will then read 'that no medical practitioner shall be entitled to recover from the patient or any other person any fees in respect of any general medical services or pharmaceutical requirements.' " A report of the debate on the bill appears on page 9.