Stance softened on abuse victims

An article from the Wanganui Chronicle by Laurel Stowell

ACC has further softened its stance toward people who have been sexually abused, counsellor Fliss Newton says. She is one of just three ACC registered counsellors left in Wanganui. "They've made some changes, so that it's almost as good as it used to be," she said.
In October 2009, ACC changed its policy on "sensitive" claims, requiring clients to prove they had suffered "a diagnosed mental injury" before they got help. The result was long waiting lists, claims refusals and protests. In August last year, the policy was relaxed to allow new clients 16 hours' counselling while they were waiting to see if their claim was accepted.
Ms Newton said that for many, that was all the counselling they needed.
More changes have been announced this month. They follow an independent clinical review by a team that included former Mental Health Commissioner Dr Barbara Disley. The latest changes allow trained people rather than just psychologists to assess clients, and allow clients who have been assessed and had counselling to ask for another 16 sessions. They also let counsellors make less frequent and more open-ended reports on clients' progress, and give clients financial help and rehabilitation if they lose their jobs as a result of the abuse.
People whose claims were declined under the controversial October 2009 policy now have a chance to apply again. "They've made it a lot more user-friendly," Ms Newton said. But Ms Newton said there were still improvements to be made. "It can still take ages for people to get an assessment, and we are not sure how it will go for people who need really long-term counselling."

© APN News & Media Ltd 2011

http://www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz/local/news/stance-softened-on-abuse-victims/3960923/

Levy cuts show government up

A press release from the ACC Futures Coalition

The announcement today that ACC levies will be drastically cut shows the government cried wolf when it told New Zealanders the ACC scheme was in a funding crisis, according to the ACC Futures Coalition.
“The size of the cuts indicates that Nick Smith’s statements in 2009 that ‘if ACC was an insurance company, it would be insolvent’ was overstated and scaremongering,” said ACC Futures Coalition spokesperson Hazel Armstrong. “ACC has had a substantial cash surplus every year since 2008. Their investments took a hit in the financial crisis but they have come back strongly, as was reasonably predictable based on the better than average performance of the investment team at ACC.
“The government hit the panic button in 2009 and hacked into claims costs, targeting areas like elective surgery, long term claims, sensitive claims and hearing loss. Nearly 40% of the savings that have allowed the levy to be cut have come from cutting claims costs, which will have involved declining more claims,” said Ms Armstrong.
“They overstepped the mark in cutting back on elective surgery – declines increased from 11% in 07/08 to 22% in 09/10, which was outrageous, and many people who should have been treated missed out. Their own internal review report released in May this year showed that they had got it wrong.”
There has been a 20% reduction of people on long term claims. Unfortunately injured people have been kicked off the scheme before they are ready to return to work. The courts are clogged up with cases pending a hearing or waiting on a decision from the court. There are 800 cases currently before the courts. Just a day or two ago the Supreme Court has just issued a landmark decision saying that ACC must comply with the law before it sends people off for vocational independence assessments.
“It is not clear to us whether the government knows what it is doing,” said Ms Armstrong. “If they did know that they could make changes that would lead to levies being reduced (by 17% in the case of earners and 22% in the case of employers) then it appears that they have manipulated the situation just in time for election year. If they didn’t know then they have damaged a lot of people along the way while pursuing illusory actuarial targets. Which is it?”

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1107/S00113/levy-cuts-show-government-up.htm

Question for written answer

5473 (2011). Carmel Sepuloni to the Minister for ACC: In response to Written Question number 02765 (2011) since 1 January 2011, broken down by month, how many casual staff are employed by ACC in the Sensitive Claims Unit?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: One casual staff member has been employed since 1 January 2011.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/d/3/3/QWA_05473_2011-5473-2011-Carmel-Sepuloni-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm

Question for written answer

5460 (2011). Carmel Sepuloni to the Minister for ACC: How many, if any, contractors have been employed by ACC in the Sensitive Claims Unit since 1 January 2011?
Hon Dr Nick Smith (Minister for ACC) replied: 10 contractors have been engaged by ACC in the Sensitive Claims Unit since 1 January 2011.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/8/1/3/QWA_05460_2011-5460-2011-Carmel-Sepuloni-to-the-Minister-for-ACC.htm