Enrol by Next Week to Ensure Medical Benefits

News release
9th May 2007

Enrol by Next Week to Ensure Continued Medical Benefits

Aucklanders have until the end of next week (Friday 18th May) to ensure they are enrolled with a Primary Healthcare Organisation (PHO) to continue to receive subsidised doctors’ visits and reduced prescription fees.

“Both the Auckland District Health Board and PHOs have been conducting campaigns encouraging people to check whether they are enrolled with a PHO, and GPs have been reporting they’ve had an increased number of calls from patients as a result,” says Denis Jury, Chief Planning and Funding Officer for the Auckland District Health Board.

He says people often confuse registration with a medical practice with enrolment with a PHO.

“They are two separate organisations. PHOs have been created to improve the health of people in a community by working with them through health education, disease prevention and screening, using ways which are most effective within local communities,”he says.

From 1st July, only those people who are enrolled with a PHO will qualify for cheaper doctors’ visits, subsidised prescription fees and access to other services – including 25-44 year-olds who up until now have not been eligible for such subsidies.

“Checking to see you are enrolled with a PHO is as simple as ringing your GP to check, and if you are not enrolled, all you have to do is fill out a form,” says Dr Jury.

ENDS

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