GPs around the country have embraced an electronic service allowing them to lodge medical certificates electronically with Work and Income.
Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley say 72 per cent of all medical certificates are now submitted electronically to the government agency.
Seventy-two per cent of GPs in New Zealand are now lodging work capacity medical certificates with Work and Income electronically. Photo: File
'It's meant 1200 clients per day no longer have to hand-deliver certificates to Work and Income offices,” explains Jonathan.
'This is a good example of agencies working together to make dealing with government easier and less time consuming.”
The secure electronic service was introduced in July of last year and allows GPs to lodge certificates which include client details on medical conditions, their ability to undertake work related activities, and how long they are expected to be unable to work.
Anne says The Ministry of Social Development is now focusing on how it can further improve its interactions with clients.
'As a result of the new electronic medical certificate system, Work and Income staff are able to devote more time to one-on-one support for beneficiaries and superannuitants.
'With increased use of online options, there is less need for clients to visit offices to fill in forms. It also means that dealing with Work and Income becomes simpler for clients,” she says.
Work and Income handles over 400,000 certificates each year, completed by 3,500 doctors.
1 comment
Wisechief
Posted on 12-02-2016 07:55 | By Wise Chief
With the base weekly amount set at $250 per week which includes accommodation allowance the sickness come jobseeker benefits are set at such a level as to ensure the recipients struggle to meet their health cost and normally worry themselves to an early death which is exactly what those who set the policy in UK wanted. Let remember it is the Central Banks like our Reserve Bank which is owned by the US Federal Reserve who instruct the government via Treasury as to what the benefit settings are to be. Most Kiwi's don;t know that those on sickness benefit are usually not recompensed for the cost of 3 monthly medical checks for issuance of Medical Certificates or the cost of travel etc.What was once a true Social Security blanket for which all pay tax to have is now used as a political weapon to reduce overall public debt.
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