Peter Tynan, Southern Cross Medical Society chief executive. Photo / Supplied
Peter Tynan, Southern Cross Medical Society chief executive. Photo / Supplied
New Zealand's largest private health insurer is reassuring members will get access to the latest breast cancer screening technology at no extra cost, after a report by the Herald on Sunday.
In September, Southern Cross came under fire for not approving tomosynthesis - new digital scanning which researchers say canhelp detect cancer 40 per cent earlier than a conventional mammogram.
Many private health insurers in New Zealand have already recognised the evidence behind tomosynthesis and include it in policies, including Accuro, Sovereign and nib. But Southern Cross had not approved it, despite private Kiwi clinics lobbying them for months.
Labour Party deputy leader Annette King followed up on the report by writing to Southern Cross, requesting the insurer explain its position.
And in a response to the Opposition health spokeswoman last month, the company revealed patients who are being told they need access to tomosynthesis are being granted it, without any top-up fees or further assessments.
Southern Cross insists its policy has not changed since September when it said in a statement that they "may be able to offer cover" on an ex-gratia basis.
But King says the letter she has been sent shows a clearer position.
"[Southern Cross] Health Society intends to add cover for diagnostic digital breast tomosynthesis as part of our annual benefit review process which next takes place in mid-2017," chief executive Peter Tynan wrote to King.
