Passport 'hassle' frustrating
Auckland health authorities are hopeful migrant patients will not have to face the hassle of producing their passports every time they visit public hospitals for much longer.
In response to queries by the Indian Weekender that some migrants have had to produce their passport on every visit to hospitals, the Auckland District Health Board hopes this will be addressed in the future.
A Mt Eden accountant, who has been in the country for two years on a permanent residence visa, told recently told the Indian Weekender that he has had to produce his passport at least six times when visiting the Greenlane Hospital in the past four months.
Satendra Kumar (no relation to the writer) said the procedure was frustrating and added to the stress of being ill.
“What makes it worse is that not everyone is asked to produce their passports,” Mr Kumar said. “While sitting in the waiting room waiting for my turn, I observed that not everyone was required to show their passport.”
Brent Wiseman, the ADHB’s chief financial officer, said the Health Ministry’s system at present does not allow a patient’s residential status to be recorded on it.
“The Ministry of Health issues the NHI (National Health Index) number.
“Currently the ministry's system does not allow the patient's eligibility to be entered against the NHI number but we are hoping this will be addressed in the future,” Mr Wiseman said.
Here are Mr Wiseman’s responses to Indian Weekender queries:
Why is there a need to present passport evidence of residential status at every visit?
“The requirement for all providers of publicly funded healthcare to establish eligibility has been set down by the Ministry of Health, with the comment: Providers are responsible for advising patients about evidence required to demonstrate eligibility. Until a patient provides proof that they are eligible, they may be charged the non-subsidised rate.
“When the evidence of residential status is within the Auckland District Health Board (ADHB) system there is no need for a patient to present a passport or similar evidence of eligibility at every visit. Once evidence has been sighted by revenue staff and entered into our system it is part of ADHB records.
“However, there can be a delay between staff getting a copy of the evidence, it being sent to be scanned and the permanent entry into the records.
“In the meantime, ADHB staff may ask the patient to bring in another copy, not realising that one has already been given. We appreciate this can be frustrating for patients.”
When an NHI number is issued, isn't that a national record of a patient's health/residential status, and shouldn't that information be in the hospital computer at all times?
“The Ministry of Health issues the NHI (National Health Index) number.
“Currently the ministry's system does not allow the patient's eligibility to be entered against the NHI number but we are hoping this will be addressed in the future.”
One member of the community has even suggested that only Indians and Asians are being asked to present passports or other forms of evidence of residential status and to fill out appropriate forms. Isn't that discriminatory? Why isn't everyone asked to verify their residential status? How do hospital staff know who is a migrant and who isn't?
“All people are required to prove their right to receive publicly funded healthcare - including all that state they were born in NZ. Accordingly, it is ADHB policy and practice to ask for evidence of residency status for all those patients for whom the information is not already on file.
Auckland health authorities are hopeful migrant patients will not have to face the hassle of producing their passports every time they visit public hospitals for much longer.
In response to queries by the Indian Weekender that some migrants have had to produce their passport on every visit to...
Auckland health authorities are hopeful migrant patients will not have to face the hassle of producing their passports every time they visit public hospitals for much longer.
In response to queries by the Indian Weekender that some migrants have had to produce their passport on every visit to hospitals, the Auckland District Health Board hopes this will be addressed in the future.
A Mt Eden accountant, who has been in the country for two years on a permanent residence visa, told recently told the Indian Weekender that he has had to produce his passport at least six times when visiting the Greenlane Hospital in the past four months.
Satendra Kumar (no relation to the writer) said the procedure was frustrating and added to the stress of being ill.
“What makes it worse is that not everyone is asked to produce their passports,” Mr Kumar said. “While sitting in the waiting room waiting for my turn, I observed that not everyone was required to show their passport.”
Brent Wiseman, the ADHB’s chief financial officer, said the Health Ministry’s system at present does not allow a patient’s residential status to be recorded on it.
“The Ministry of Health issues the NHI (National Health Index) number.
“Currently the ministry's system does not allow the patient's eligibility to be entered against the NHI number but we are hoping this will be addressed in the future,” Mr Wiseman said.
Here are Mr Wiseman’s responses to Indian Weekender queries:
Why is there a need to present passport evidence of residential status at every visit?
“The requirement for all providers of publicly funded healthcare to establish eligibility has been set down by the Ministry of Health, with the comment: Providers are responsible for advising patients about evidence required to demonstrate eligibility. Until a patient provides proof that they are eligible, they may be charged the non-subsidised rate.
“When the evidence of residential status is within the Auckland District Health Board (ADHB) system there is no need for a patient to present a passport or similar evidence of eligibility at every visit. Once evidence has been sighted by revenue staff and entered into our system it is part of ADHB records.
“However, there can be a delay between staff getting a copy of the evidence, it being sent to be scanned and the permanent entry into the records.
“In the meantime, ADHB staff may ask the patient to bring in another copy, not realising that one has already been given. We appreciate this can be frustrating for patients.”
When an NHI number is issued, isn't that a national record of a patient's health/residential status, and shouldn't that information be in the hospital computer at all times?
“The Ministry of Health issues the NHI (National Health Index) number.
“Currently the ministry's system does not allow the patient's eligibility to be entered against the NHI number but we are hoping this will be addressed in the future.”
One member of the community has even suggested that only Indians and Asians are being asked to present passports or other forms of evidence of residential status and to fill out appropriate forms. Isn't that discriminatory? Why isn't everyone asked to verify their residential status? How do hospital staff know who is a migrant and who isn't?
“All people are required to prove their right to receive publicly funded healthcare - including all that state they were born in NZ. Accordingly, it is ADHB policy and practice to ask for evidence of residency status for all those patients for whom the information is not already on file.
Leave a Comment