19. Mr. DENNISSasked the Secretary to the Treasury what steps are taken in England, Wales, and Scotland, respectively, to secure that names of insured persons who have died, or ceased to be insured, or have moved from an area in which they were formerly insured are taken off the list, of the panel doctor whom they had selected, or to whom they had been assigned, and whether the arrangements made for this purpose are working satisfactorily; whether there is any reason to believe that some doctors have been paid on account of insured persons in respect of whom they were not entitled to be paid; and what instructions, if any, have been given to insurance committees to prevent the possibility of a panel doctor being paid in respect of an insured person for whom he is not entitled to make a claim?
Mr. BENNArrangements were origin ally made for the notification by approved societies to insurance committees of the deaths, lapses from insurance, and removals of their members. As regards removals, a new system has been instituted which enables their notification by societies to be dispensed with. As regards deaths and lapses, the procedure is being 11 revised in connection with the new system, and as a result of the experience gained. Cases may have occurred in which, notwithstanding the advice of the Commissioners, advances have been made to practitioners out of proportion to the amount due to them, but any such overpayments would, of course, be adjusted on the final settlement.
Mr. DENNISSHas the hon. Member not already estimated the number of doctors who have in the past been paid twice or three times over the amount in the estimate?