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Individuals could be charged for GP visits based on their ability to pay under a national government.
National Health Party spokesman Shane Reti today announced his health policy ahead of the general election, detailing how he would spend $ 788 million on health over four years.
He described possible changes in the way GPs were financed, and he undertook to explore co-payment mechanisms based on the patient’s ability to pay.
GPs charge patients a co-pay fee that is limited by the government. Internships are also funded based on how many people they have on their roster, not how many times you see patients.
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Robert Kitchin / Things
Dr Samantha Murton, President of the Royal New Zealand College of GPs, says there should be a review of the way GPs are funded.
Under National’s plans, GP visits would remain free for those who now qualify, including all children under the age of 13.
But others may be charged more or less, depending on their ability to pay.
Dr Sam Murton, President of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, said there should be a review of the way GPs are funded.
“We think it should be an honest review, not just touch-up bits and pieces,” he said.
GPs get the same amount of money to care for someone with high needs as they are with low needs, and a variance in payments was “something we should keep thinking about and considering.”
“GPs are waiting for a change,” he said.
Kevin Stent / Stuff
National Party for Health spokesman Shane Reti announces his party’s health policy in Wellington on Wednesday morning.
A spokesman for the National Party did not clarify what the threshold would be for the different positions, but said the policy followed recommendations made in 2015 to then-Health Minister Jonathan Coleman of the Primary Care Task Force.
He found that all practices should have the flexibility to charge patients who do not have great needs a fee commensurate with the service.
Other notable policies included a new border agency, a funding push of $ 50 million a year for cancer drugs, and a new medical school.
Pharmac would also get an additional $ 5 million a year to purchase treatments for rare disorders.
David Unwin / Stuff
National promises that Pharmac will raise an additional $ 5 million a year to fund treatments for rare disorders. (File photo).
National has committed to addressing the health care zip code lottery, where access to care can differ depending on where you live, by introducing a standard level of treatment across the country.
Part of this work included the implementation of the bowel late detection program to the remaining 10 DHBs in their first year in office.
He promised to speed up waits for elective surgery and ensure that no one waits more than four months for elective surgery with “punitive consequences” for DHBs who did not meet the goal, Reti said.
Then you would need to find another DHB to perform the surgery or hire a private hospital.
Part of its focus on cancer included the establishment of a National Cancer Agency, independent from the Ministry of Health, to ensure access to treatment, setting a new target to serve 95 percent of high-risk cancer patients in two weeks.
Stuff
Access to health care in rural areas was a focal point of National’s policy, including initial plans to establish a third graduate medical school focused on the retention of general practitioners in rural areas. (File photo)
Access to health care in rural areas was a focal point of his policy, including initial plans to establish a third graduate medical school focused on the retention of general practitioners in rural areas.
Also targeting GPs, National promised to spend $ 192 million over four years on a general practice navigator, a new social worker role to help people interact with government agencies, track appointments, and referrals. and make home visits.
Part of its Covid-19 plans includes a new border protection agency to manage the government response and secure the border.
He would be in charge of travel policy, training of border personnel and managed quarantine, and movement in ports and cargo. Part of their role would be to ensure that people arriving in New Zealand have had a negative Covid-19 test.
ROBERT KITCHEN / Things
National Party health spokesman Dr. Shane Reti says National will speed up waits for elective surgery.
He also promised to hold a “coronavirus summit” with health specialists, business leaders and unions to review lockdown levels, but said he was committed to the current government’s take-off approach.
His policy also outlined plans to reestablish national health goals, with quarterly performance reports against those goals to be made public. The targets were eliminated in 2018.
National promised to compare cost factors, such as staffing levels, and establish an asset management scheme for repairs and maintenance.
National will make Health Workforce NZ independent from the Ministry of Health in charge of planning the future workforce.
