Health tests: who pays?

Millar_Errol__Medium_.jpg
Millar_Errol__Medium_.jpg
The Southern District Health Board will not pay for extra laboratory tests generated by a new warrant of fitness check for paying patients in Waitaki, chairman Errol Millar told a board meeting in Dunedin this week.

Last month Waitaki District Health Services launched a $600 warrant of fitness entailing a battery of health checks, including a general assessment by a medical specialist, blood tests for cholesterol, renal and liver function, full blood count and blood sugar level, cardiovascular risk assessment, chest X-ray, lung function, exercise test, and postrate screening for males over 50.

Patients can also choose to pay for some extras themselves, including an echocardiogram ($400) and CT colonography ($640).

Mr Millar said laboratory tests ordered in the public system, as a consequence of the warrant of fitness tests, would be billed to the health trust.

Board member Richard Thomson sought and received an assurance the matter was being followed through with the trust.

Oamaru Hospital general manager Robert Gonzales told the Otago Daily Times he did not see a difference between a GP sending patients for tests, and those arising from the warrant of fitness.

Patients opting for the warrant of fitness could benefit from the specialist-level attention on their health.

The warrant of fitness was introduced because Oamaru patients were travelling out of town for tests at private clinics.

He expected the service to generate about one client a week, and he did not think the warrant of fitness would generate the need for many extra tests.

Mr Gonzales said he was asked about the laboratory test issue by the board's planning and funding arm at the end of last month, and believed a response he sent was the end of the matter.

Given the matter was raised at yesterday's meeting indicated he may need to engage further with the board about the issue, he said.

 

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