2020 Budget: SuperGold Cardholders Get Free Health / Vision Checkups

SuperGold cardholders will receive a free annual eye and health check-up as part of health spending that goes primarily to DHBs who are addressing huge treatment delays caused by the Covid-19 blockade.

New funds have been earmarked to implement a promised free annual medical checkup for the country’s more than 750,000 SuperGold cardholders, including an eye checkup (a policy that was included in the New Zealand First Labor Coalition deal).

That will cost nearly $ 13 million in 2020/21, increasing to an estimated $ 61.6 million a year since 2021/22. The start date has not been determined, and checks may not be available until next year.

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The big injection of health spending goes primarily to health boards and was primarily described in a pre-Budget announcement, which includes a one-time increase of $ 283 million over three years to eliminate a delay caused by the blockade estimated at 153,000 procedures. and more appointments.

Covid-19 leaves the biggest mark on Vote Health, but there are signs of other major events; Mental health expenses to address the current trauma of the March 15 mosque shootings, and $ 20 million paid to the Crown by ACC for the treatment of those injured in the Whakaari / White Island eruption.

Funding has been established for the new national cancer agency, with the Cancer Society hailing the 2020 Budget as something that “could provide the world-class cancer care that New Zealanders deserve if spent carefully.”

“The $ 282.5 million recovery campaign for planned care and elective surgeries will be good news for cancer patients affected by the Covid-19 blockade,” said executive director of cancer society Lucy Elwood.

However, the nearly $ 24 million a year to “maintain access to primary health services” disappointed the Royal NZ College of General Practitioners, who said that general practitioners had been left out at a time when they would be dealing with a large number of patients who had postponed the search. watch out.

“I have not seen anything in today’s Budget that shows me a revitalized future for general practice in New Zealand, but I hope that in the coming months we can get there,” said University President Dr. Samantha Murton.

Mental Health Foundation Executive Director Shaun Robinson welcomed the focus on helping keep people in meaningful jobs as key to well-being, but said the Budget lacked resources or an implementation plan for the recommendations made. for the historical report of research on mental health and addictions.

“Past disasters have taught us that there is no recovery without a strong focus on mental health. Mental well-being will be vital to economic recovery.”

Health spending includes an additional $ 3.92 billion for health boards, a total of $ 980 million per year for four years; the one-time boost of $ 282.5 million over three years to eliminate delays; and ongoing financing of $ 31.35 billion per year to cover demographic changes and rising prices.

An additional $ 160 million will go to Pharmac, $ 832.5 million to support services for the disabled, and $ 177 million to help primary community maternity services cope with rising demand and costs. Details of the maternity initiatives have yet to be announced.

An additional $ 750 million has been budgeted for capital expenditures by the country’s 20 DHBs. Most health boards have identified infrastructure issues as a major risk to treatment and patient safety, including the extreme age of buildings that are unsuitable for treatment purposes, with some leaking and earthquake-prone .

Earlier this week, National health spokesman Michael Woodhouse welcomed funding for the health boards, but said DHB’s financial performance had “plummeted” under Labor and Covid-19 was creating More pain.

“Our DHBs have been left between a rock and a difficult place by a minister who has allowed them to sink into huge deficits in the past two years.”