Means tested GP charges, new border agency, $50m a year for cancer drugs National's health election

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People could be charged for GP visits depending on their ability to pay under a National government. National Party spokesperson for Health Shane Reti today announced its health policy going into the general election, detailing how it would spend $788 million on health over four years. It outlined potential changes to the way GPs were funded, pledging to explore co-payment mechanisms based on a patient’s ability to pay. GPs charge patients a co-payment fee which is capped by the Government. Practices are also funded by how many people they have on their roll, not the amount of times it sees patients.

Under National’s plans, GP visits would remain free for those who qualify now including all children under 13. But others may be charged more, or less, depending on their ability to pay. Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners president Dr Sam Murton said there should be a review of the way GPs were funded.

She said, we think it should be a wholehearted review, not just tweaking bits and pieces. GPs get the same amount of money to care for someone with high needs as they do with low needs, and a variation in payments was something we should continue to think about and consider. GPs are expecting change.