Most middle-aged patients to get cheaper doctor visits

Nearly all doctor's practices have signed up for the new deal that means cheaper treatment for patients aged between 45 and 64, Health Minister Pete Hodgson said today.

It is the latest subsidy rollout in the Government's primary healthcare strategy and means more than 690,000 people will pay $27 less when they next visit a doctor.

Mr Hodgson said the $27 subsidy would roughly cut the cost of a doctor visit in half, and prescription costs had dropped to $3 per item.

There were difficult negotiations with doctors over a new fee regime but Mr Hodgson said they were concluded in time and on the July 1 start date 750 practices were on board.

"All but three general practices in New Zealand have now met the requirements to obtain funding for the 45-64 year old rollout," he said.

"In previous years up to 20 per cent of practices were not eligible for funding by the start date."

The subsidy for the 45-64 aged group was the fourth the Government has introduced.

Ages 6-17 were subsidised in 2003, over 65 in 2004, 18-24 last year and 45-64 this year.

Next year the final age group, 25-44, will be subsidised.

- NZPA