Media Release: 21 May 2009

ACC’s Elective Surgery Unit – A cynical approach to reduce liability.

Over the last year Access Support Services has been inundated with claimants wishing to review decisions made by ACC’s Elective Surgery Unit. Most of these decisions involve declines to fund shoulder surgery. Access Support Services have successfully overturned a significant majority of these decisions because the medical evidence has not supported ACC’s position.

“We consider ACC is taking a very cynical approach in order reduce its liability and the impact on claimants is devastating” says Mr Wadsworth, an advocate and Principal of Access Support Services. “We are even hearing from some clients that medical practitioners are telling them not to bother with ACC, it has got that bad!”

Access Support Services is very concerned at these developments because it indicates medical professionals are losing confidence in the ACC scheme.

“Unfortunately, a vast majority of claimants do not review these dubious decisions. Not only is this placing an added burden on the Public Health system, the delay in treatment compromises the person’s recovery from an accident-related injury” Mr Wadsworth said.

Access Support Services strongly urges claimants receiving letters of decline from ACC’s Elective Surgery Unit to consider an independent review of these decisions.

ENDS

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