Health managers from the South Island want all district health boards to stop paying for private patients' laboratory tests.
Following a meeting last month, the South Island chief executives and general managers of planning and funding (apart from Nelson-Marlborough) are recommending their boards support a policy ceasing public funding for private specialist-referred laboratory tests.
Otago's board will vote on the recommendation this week.
It will also be asked to agree that private tests should continue to be funded by the board until a new policy is made by the Ministry of Health.
The recommendation against public funding is contrary to most of the 301 submissions to the South Island boards which favoured private tests continuing to be paid with public money.
Only 25 members of the general public responded to the consultation.
Among the concerns from general practitioners were that the change could cost patients time and money, as private specialists would send patients back to their doctor for blood tests to avoid costs to the patient.
This would also involve extra work for GPs.
Other worries were that the proposal would force up health insurance premiums, which could have the effect of putting more pressure on the public health system as the number of privately insured patients decreased.
The South Island boards estimate the change would release $3 million annually across the island, and in Otago $1.1 million.
One respondent has indicated he will seek a judicial review if the boards proceed, as he believes they have not established the actual savings that would be achieved.
Private laboratory test charges were introduced in Wellington last year, resulting in a $1.6 million saving, about $400,000 less than anticipated.
Otago chief executive Brian Rousseau said at the meeting of the South Island board management it was noted there was inequity of access to publicly funded private specialist referred tests and should the South Island boards cease funding, then in the absence of a national agreement over the matter, further inequity of access would result.
An impact report from Capital and Coast and Hutt Valley district health boards indicated there had been some pressure on GPs to order tests to avoid the new charges, but this was expected to subside over time.
There had been a high degree of acceptance by patients, although there were several complaints about the nationwide policy inconsistency, the report stated.
Tairawhiti District Health Board has also adopted the no-payment policy.
