Network applauds VLCA announcement

NZRGPN Press Release, September 26, 2013. For immediate use

Network applauds VLCA announcement

The New Zealand Rural General Practice Network welcomes Health Minister Tony Ryall’s announcement that the government will invest an extra $16 million over four years to support general practices offering low-cost doctors’ visits.

“Many of these practices are in rural communities and it has been really hard for them to continue offering the Very Low Cost Access (VLCA) service with a capped “ordinary consultation” fee of $17.50 when costs have continued to increase. Without additional government funding the only option these practices have to meet the increasing costs is to increase patient numbers and of course in small towns there is a limit to how many patients you can register,” says Network chairman Dr Jo Scott-Jones.

“Significant workforce pressures have caused many practices to ‘close their books’ just because they do not have the staff to service people safely, so again rural practices are disadvantaged compared to areas where it is easier to attract health care professionals.

There are nearly 300 general practices across the country that offer low-cost doctors’ visits through the VLCA scheme, approximately 65 in rural communities.

It is important that Minister Ryall has said that 100 per cent of the money is to go to support general practices and none of this money is to be clipped for administration purposes.

The Minister says extra funding will be targeted at practices with workforce issues in high needs communities, and of course the details of how this will be determined and what impact it will have is essential to a successful initiative.

The NZRGPN is keen to encourage as many rural practices as possible to contact their PHOs and begin the process of assessment and planning to access this additional funding.

ENDS

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