SOCIAL SECURITY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 98, 28 April 1939, Page 9

SOCIAL SECURITY

MATERNITY BENEFITS REGULATIONS GAZETTED PARTIAL SCHEME AT FIRST Terms of contract in relation to the maternity benefits under the Social Security Act and forms to be filled in by those who desire to undertake the services under the scheme have been received by medical practitioners in Wanganui. Doctors approached on the matter declined to comment on the regulations under the contract, stating that they required more time to consider them. It is stated that the impression they have so far gained is that the contract is so full of regulations that very little can be gleaned of the medical side. Copies of *'ie Social Security (Maternity Benefits) Regulations have been received. Among the principal provisions of the regulations is that dealing with the start of the services which, briefly, provides that any of the four classes ol benefits (hospital board, maternity hospital, medica. practitioner, and obstetric nurse:, may be introduced independently of any of the others and that the benefits may be started at different times in different districts. It is assumed from this that until satisfactory arrangements are made with doctors the other benefits may be macle available independently. The regulations fix no definite date for the opening of the scheme. Lists to be Published It is provided that lists of maternity hospitals which are to be issued by the department shall indicate whether the payment from the social security fund will be accepted by a maternity hospital as full or partial satisfaction, as the case may be, of the hospital’s charges for maternity benefits. If a maternity hospital does not accept the fund's contribution as ful, satisfaction, the patient is liable for the balance. The regulations provide a schedule o£ payments for maternity hospital treatment, but as far as medical practitioners are concerned there is no special scale, the amount, to be eakMlated in accordance with the Minister. Three clauses deal with the assignment of patients where satisfactory arrangements cannot be made by a patient for maternity benefits. In the case of doctors a committee of doctors will assign her to a doctor, and in the case of nurses and maternity hospitals the assignment will be made by the medical officer o£ health. The conditions of assignments are fully set out. Obstetric specialists are entitled tc/ charge, in addition to the amount recoverable from the fund, a fee recoverable from a patient, provided the specialist gives notice of the additional charge. Wanganui maternity hospitals yesterday received a request from the Minister to indicate whether they would join the scheme, but it is believed that no details were supplied and that most of them are likely to wait until they have seen the regulations. It is probable that a meeting will be held to consider the position.