No increase for routine consultations

No increase for routine consultations

Fees for routine consultations with your own West Coast District Health Board general practice will not change with the new fee schedule being introduced next month.

At $17.50 for adults and $11.50 for children aged 6 – 17 years (children under six are free), the West Coast fee remains one of the cheapest in the country.

General Manager Planning and Funding, Carolyn Gullery, says fees have been inconsistent for some time at the 12 DHB-managed general practices or clinics on the Coast. Apart from a small adjustment to routine appointment charges a couple of years ago, the fee schedule has not been changed for about four years.

There are GP fee increases in non-routine services including home visits, consultations with non-enrolled and overseas patients and some other medical procedures.

From next month people will be able to pick up the new West Coast DHB fee schedule at their general practices.

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