Promise of cheaper doctor visits looks shaky

The promise of cheaper GP visits for 45- to 64-year-olds looks in doubt, with doctors determined to resist an attempt by district health boards to regulate fees.

From July 1, the Government is to plough another $110 million into subsidising doctors' fees for the 45- to 64-year-olds - about 700,000 people.

Those under 25 and over 65 who are enrolled with primary health organisations (PHOs) already qualify for a subsidy.

But DHBs are placing conditions on getting the new funding and GPs' representatives are urging doctors not to sign any agreements that would allow the Government to set their fees.

The PHO Alliance, which represents primary health organisations covering two million New Zealanders, claims "fee-fixing" will force GPs out of business and leave some communities without a doctor.

Acting chairman Hamish Kynoch said most GPs would never agree to fee regulation, so the Government would not be able to deliver on its promised subsidy to all New Zealanders.

"If the Government carried out its threat to exclude GPs who do not agree to fee regulation, then large swathes of our community will not get the subsidy," he said. "That is likely to result in more sickness, and more visits to hospitals."

Price regulation would "force GPs out of business, and out of our communities".

"That will not be good for the health of our people.

"The scheme steps well beyond the influence the Government should have on private businesses in a competitive market.

"This will affect their long-term sustainability and have a detrimental effect on an already fragile workforce."

He doubted a nationwide fee benchmark would be "sufficiently flexible to accurately represent real life increases in costs and income expectations".

The PHO Alliance would instead support nationally agreed "terms of reference" for the fee review committee process, which was provided for in the existing contract that PHOs have with DHBs.

Speaking last week in response to criticisms by the College of GPs and the GP Practices Leaders' Forum, DHB spokesman Chris Clarke said the boards wanted to ensure that the reductions were passed on to patients.

Fee increases should be agreed up front and that process should be transparent.

- NZPA