SuperGold Health Check Bill

SuperGold Health Check Bill EXPLANATORY NOTE GENERAL POLICY STATEMENT This Bill provides SuperGold cardholders with an entitlement to 3 free doctor's visits per year. The intent of this Bill is to prevent older people from ignoring a minor ailment that could deteriorate, requiring subsequent hospitalisation. The 3 free visits will encourage SuperGold cardholders to get 3 free health checks every year. If these health checks prevent 1% of those SuperGold cardholders from being admitted to hospital, the policy is fiscally neutral. Preventing hospitalisation is a huge financial cost saving for our health service and has far-reaching benefits in terms of social, emotional, physical, and psychological wellbeing, especially for older people. CLAUSE BY CLAUSE ANALYSIS Clause 1 is the Title clause. Clause 2 is the commencement clause. It provides for the Bill to come into force on the day after the date on which it receives the Royal consent. Clause 3 is the clause that states the purpose of the Bill. Clause 4 is the interpretation clause that sets out the definitions and terms used in the Bill. Clause 5 provides that the Act binds the Crown. Clause 6 provides SuperGold cardholders with an entitlement for 3 annual free doctor's visits. Clause 7 provides a permanent legislative authority for any expenses incurred as a result of delivering the policy of the Bill. The Parliament of New Zealand enacts as follows: 1 Title This Act is the SuperGold Health Check Act 2013. 2 Commencement This Act comes into force on the day after the date on which it receives the Royal assent. 3 Purpose The purpose of this Act is to provide SuperGold cardholders with an entitlement to 3 free doctor's visits per year. 4 Interpretation In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— doctor , in relation to a SuperGold cardholder, means a general practitioner of a primary health organisation at which the SuperGold cardholder is enrolled SuperGold Card means an entitlement card issued under regulation 4(1) of the Social Security (SuperGold Card) Regulations 2007 valid , in relation to a SuperGold Card, means signed by the person to whom it was issued. 5 Act binds the Crown This Act binds the Crown. 6 Entitlement to 3 annual free doctor's visits A SuperGold cardholder is entitled to 3 free doctor's visits per year if he or she— a holds a valid SuperGold Card; and b is enrolled as a patient of a primary health organisation. 7 Funding for free doctors' visits Any expenses incurred under section 6 must be paid out of money appropriated by Parliament for the purpose.