Clinics Reopen But At Increased Cost
Illawarra Mercury
Friday June 14, 2002
Family planning clinics in NSW will reopen today after securing new insurance coverage but their revival comes at the cost of a tripling in premiums.
FPA Health, formerly Family Planning NSW, said yesterday it would resume sexual and reproductive health services for 70,000 patients and clients who have been denied treatment after indemnity coverage was withdrawn nearly two weeks ago.
The insurance lifeline will last 12 months but clinical trials remain on hold until an insurer can be found to offer professional indemnity for the research work.
FPA Health president Robyn Henderson said the agreement protected the organisation and staff against liability claims, but she would not name the insurer or quantify the premium.
``It's going to cost three times more than it did before," she said.
``We have been out of action for 13 days and I guess all services have wound up, all services have been off the air," Ms Henderson said.
``I guess in the area of clinical trials we are going to keep searching for the insurance.
``We need the clinical practice to inform the research and vice versa, so it's a package.
``Clinical trials are an important component of our work and we will push very hard to get them covered, it just might take a little longer."
The Commonwealth-funded organisation last month revealed its insurer, US-based St Paul's, had withdrawn from the Australian market and notified FPA that its policy would not be renewed.
© 2002 Illawarra Mercury
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