Comprehensive rethink of ACC service delivery still required

Estimates of the costs of the recent extensions to ACC were totally inadequate and led to the subsequent budget blow outs, say the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern)

“Its no surprise ACC’s costs went ballistic,” said Paul Jarvie, EMA’s Manager of Occupational Health and Safety.

“We warned many times that the recent extensions to the scheme would jeopardise it.

“Business will welcome the proposed changes to ACC with some relief.

“Though they are small enough in the scheme of things, they represent moves to trim back some of the excesses recently introduced.

“Many of the changes are in the social areas and won’t affect either employers and or employees.

“But we counsel that care must be taken to preserve ACC’s principles. We want the scheme’s no fault concept kept intact.

“We do not want to see a medical-legal court room arbitration system develop. Patients rarely win in such an environment.

“The changes announced have one significant oversight, in the area of prevention. It seems blindingly obvious but if there are no injuries there are no claims so we want Government to unite the Department of Labour and ACC’s injury prevention efforts to better effect injury prevention.

“Smarter rehabilitation will help reduce the cost of claims but it could also just shift costs onto employers. What is needed is a comprehensive re think of how the ACC delivers its products and services.”