Pharmacy on Web

30 October 2008

The Auckland Regional District Health Boards want any patient referred by a private specialist to pay for their own lab tests.

This affects you and Southern Cross encourages you to have your say on this important issue (see links at the bottom).

Private patients that take responsibility for their health care - either through insurance premiums or by seeking private care - will pay yet again under the proposed scheme. This proposal is blatant cost shifting and doesn't recognise that you too are a tax payer.

The DHB's say they expect the average cost of each lab test to be around $16.50. But there is no indication of what this figure could rise to, nor recognition that often multiple tests are required. In Wellington, patients have paid up to $2,400 for tests!! This policy if allowed to be implemented in Auckland (and other regions) is likely to affect your premiums.

We invite you to have your say and help Southern Cross oppose this policy.
You can do so in the following ways:

• Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Or go to www.communitylabs.co.nz
• Or request a submission pack through 0800 522 667

To make it easier for you we have a prepared a short statement below that you may wish to copy and send directly to the email address listed above.

Thank you for your help.

Dr Ian McPherson
Group Chief Executive
Southern Cross Healthcare

Statement
I strongly oppose the move to charge patients privately referred by specialists for lab tests. Private patients that take responsibility for their health care will pay twice under this policy. Privately insured people are tax payers too and should be treated fairly.