7. GEORGINA BEYER (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister for ACC
Has she received any recent reports concerning New Zealand’s no-fault ACC system?
Hon RUTH DYSON (Minister for ACC) Link to this
As a matter of fact, I have. I have seen a report of a health-care conference in Auckland where an American speaker from the Harvard School of Public Health, Edward Dauer, speaking at that conference, described the Accident Compensation Corporation’s system of dealing with medical injuries as “the most sophisticated in the world”.
Yes, it did. Those comments were backed up by a medical law expert, Dr Marie Bismark, whose research shows that compared with the private American system for dealing with medical injuries, which is based on expensive litigation, our no-fault accident compensation scheme is faster and fairer, more patients can get compensation and rehabilitation, and our scheme also contributes to future improvements in the health-care system.
Dr Paul Hutchison Link to this
Does she intend to implement the recent ministerial panel’s recommendation that “those with impairment, regardless of cause, be entitled to a comparable level of medical, social and vocational rehabilitation as those who receive ACC cover”; if so, given the huge cost implications, where will she get the money from other than from significant extra taxes?
In fact, some parts of section 31 of the committee’s report have already been implemented. An example is the extension of the support from Work and Income services for people on an invalids benefit or a sickness benefit, which showed at one trial site a reduction of 14 percent in the number of people on an invalids benefit, compared with those who are without such services. That is not extra expenditure. That is extra finance to the Government and extra investment in New Zealanders. I thought the member might support that.
Peter BrownIn the light of that favourable report from the overseas expert, what credence does she give to many, many New Zealanders who have some real, genuine concerns and complaints about the Accident Compensation Corporation and the system?