EVASION OF PAYMENT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17425, 25 November 1930, Page 4

EVASION OF PAYMENT

HOSPITAL EXPENSES BOARDS NEED PROTECTION (Pur Presß Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. Tim secretary of the New Zealand Hospital Hoards Association, Mr. E. Cautions, made a statement to-day in regard to a recent judgment in the Supreme Court as to the compensation granted in accident east's and the payment of hospital accounts. “Tin' returns from a number of hospital hoards reveal considerable losses on aeeou.nl of hospital fees for accident eases. including, unfortunately, fees incurred by persons without dependants, able, hut unwilling to pay. Unpaid hospital accounts for the past year of persons without dependants, w ho are, well able, hut are unwilling to meet their obligations, vary in amount from C 209 in the ease of smaller hospitals to over El non ill the, ease of la rger hospitals. ’ ’

Mr. Cannons, continuing, said: “Hospital hoards have no power to i tiforce payment of hospital fees from insurance moneys, and usually are solely dependent on the kind offices of those solicitors handling insurance moneys, which offices are highly appreciated by the hoards concerned. Representations have been made to the Government to have hospital fees paid, out of .insurance where such payment does not inflict hardship, hut this was not taken tip by the Government, except as provided under the Workers’ Compensation Amendment Act (dropped at the (■ml of last session), whereby medical allowance under the Act was to he increased from LI to £25, out of which hospital fees at the rate of Ed per week were to he paid direct lo the hospital concerned. ’ ’ Mr. Cannons concluded: “Despite the eo-npcralion of solicitors in effecting the settlement of hospital claims — many claims do not come under their control —considerable losses are incurred by hospital hoards, and some further protection such as that mentioned bv Mr. dust ice Reed, or as could he provided by legislation, appears to he desirable.”