New Zealand GPs Take Fee Complaint to the Commerce Commission Amid Funding Concerns

New Zealand General Practitioners have lodged a formal complaint against Health NZ with the Commerce Commission, seeking a critical review of the subsidy they are paid per patient. The General Practice Owners Association describes the current contracts as “unfair,” and potentially “illegal,” raising concerns that they may be putting patients’ lives at risk. GPs receive annual “capitation” funding from the government for every enrolled patient, with some variation according to age. This year, the government will put $1.24 billion toward capitation funding and a further $218 million in flexible funding for general practices—a total of $1.46 billion, which amounts to less than five percent of the total $30 billion health budget....