KEY POINTS:
Health insurance premiums will probably rise now a move to force private health users to pay for their own laboratory tests has been adopted by two more district health boards.
Otago and Southland's boards have voted to stop paying for any tests ordered by specialists for private patients.
The majority of the tests cost between $10 and $500, although some can cost up to $2000. Many operations require multiple tests.
The southern boards' vote follows the lead of Capital and Coast District Health Board, which stopped funding the tests in 2006.
A further three South Island health boards are to vote on the scheme in the coming weeks. Nelson Marlborough is the only South Island health board to not investigate the scheme further.
Opponents say the scheme adds too much extra money to private health bills _ bills many private health users already struggle with.
Adding further costs could drive some people away from private health and back into the public system, further clogging public hospitals and adding to elective surgery waiting lists.
Health Funds Association executive director Roger Styles told the Weekend Herald last night the Wellington scheme had resulted in a significant increase in the region's private lab test bill, largely due to increases in the administration required to bill each patient.
"They have created a whole new bureaucracy to fund a small proportion of lab tests. It's being seen as an easy way for DHBs to improve their budgets through cost shifting."
He said the uptake of the scheme by all the South Island boards would probably result in a 0.5 per cent rise in health insurance premiums nation-wide. About 1.4 million New Zealanders had health insurance, he said.
The New Zealand Medical Association's chairman, Dr Peter Foley, slammed the move yesterday, calling it hugely disappointing and a blow for patients who will "bear the brunt" of the decision.
"This extremely short-sighted move will have a very small impact on the DHBs' budgets, but may have very serious health consequences for the people in those regions."
