Health insurers welcome measuring specialist referrals

Health insurers welcome measuring specialist referrals

Health insurers have welcomed the announcement by Health Minister Jonathan Coleman of the pending release of a report by the Ministry of Health measuring the outcome of GP referrals to public hospitals.

Health Funds Association (HFANZ) acting chief executive Chris Pentecost said today that the industry was pleased the Government was recognising there was an issue of unmet need surrounding patient flow from GPs to public hospital-based specialists.

In 2013 HFANZ commissioned research which identified as many as 280,000 New Zealanders who require elective surgery, with only 110,000 formally placed on a waiting list.

A high proportion of those not on waiting lists were aged over 70 or in lower income households, many of whom suffered from a reduced quality of life and required assistance.

The HFANZ research was reinforced by a further study published late last year suggesting almost 40 percent of hip and knee patients in Northland and Hawke’s Bay referred for a publicly funded operation were denied.

“Last year health insurers funded over 200,000 elective surgical procedures for those with health insurance, at a cost of some $800 million. We believe a similar number were excluded from consideration in the public system because their condition was not perceived to be so significant for them to be immediately placed on a waiting list,” Mr Pentecost said.

“Any information which measures the unmet need for elective surgery can only assist all parties and individuals to give careful consideration to capacity in the public health system and whether the public system can effectively meet the on-going health needs of New Zealanders,” he said.

“Through the introduction of Kiwisaver, successive governments have recognised the need for individuals to take some responsibility for their financial situation when they age.

Similar focus needs to be applied to health.”

ENDS

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