Those under 21 will be eligible for a $30 subsidy for two sexual health consultations. However, the PHO would not pay the GST for "non high needs" patients, and GPs were able to charge up to $10 extra, PHO chief executive Ian Macara said.
Mr Macara said the restriction was necessary to fund the programme across Otago and Southland. Those defined as "high needs", Maori, Pacific Island people, and people living in deprived areas, were eligible for the GST payment.
The PHO's 2011-12 clinical programme, parts of which, including sexual health, would have started this month, has been held up because it is yet to be signed off by Southern District Health Board. However, the sticking points with the DHB do not include the sexual health provisions.
The plan would not be implemented until approval by the DHB, expected at its August 5 meeting. It is also subject to Ministry of Health approval.
Queenstown Medical Centre chief operating officer Shane Zeederberg was pleased the PHO had listened to those on the "coal face" of health in the resort.
Mr Zeederberg had been concerned about a potential rise in sexually transmitted infection and pregnancy rates in the resort as the proposal threatened the viability of the Wakatipu Sexual Health and Family Planning Clinic, which is operated at the medical centre. The expanded entitlement, while not as generous as previously, assured the clinic's future.
"It's a win for us in Queenstown, assuming the powers-that-be actually sign [the plan] off," Mr Zeederberg said.
Mr Macara said the PHO responded to "constructive criticism" from the sector when it sought feedback in May. It was not unusual to change draft plans.
Previously, under nine former PHOs, Otago and Southland had had very different entitlements for sexual health care, and the new programme standardised entitlement.
He played down the delay in gaining approval, saying the PHO and DHB were working constructively together.
Asked if patients would be able to claw back money spent on sexual health consultations, Mr Macara said he could not comment because the plan was under negotiation.
GP at Amity Health Centre in Dunedin, Dr Phil White, said the practice was in "limbo", with young people having to pay in full for sexual health consultations.
Transition from the old regime - which in Dunedin funded those under 25 for sexual health visits - had not been well handled.
"As a practice, we are disappointed by the management of the transition and the limbo we are in at present," Dr White said.
Once the new system was operating it was possible the centre would cross-subsidise young patients to avoid charging them.
Southern DHB funding and finance general manager Robert Mackway-Jones said most of the clinical plan was "conceptually agreed", and would go to the combined disability support and community and public health committees and the full board next month.
