Māori face significant challenges in accessing health services. Consequently, they are a high-risk group for poor health outcomes, with a relatively high burden of noncommunicable diseases. In terms of eye care, there is an unmet need of care for diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, cataract and uncorrected refractive error.
In a New Zealand first, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei has partnered with nib to provide fully comprehensive private health insurance to the hapū members, funded entirely by the hapū.
The aim is to engage hapū members to access and use health services for early intervention, with a view to ultimately improving their health and wellbeing. It includes cover for surgical and non-surgical hospital treatment, as well as specialist care with ophthalmologists, GP visits and optical, allowing members to take a more holistic approach to managing their healthcare.
As part of the program, Specsavers has partnered with nib to provide the primary eyecare services for Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.
In doing so, for the first time ever, two adjustments have been made to the health insurance policy:
1) an eye test conducted by an optometrist is included as per specialist/GP consultations and is therefore fully funded under the policy; and
2) the ancillary cover of the policy includes a zero out-of-pocket expense for the provision of glasses or contact lenses.
As a result of the partnership, improved eye health outcomes will be achieved by:
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Increasing the proportion of hapū members accessing regular eye tests and care
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Streamlining care pathways through enhanced sharing of clinical information, reducing unnecessary duplication of tests and reducing the rates of hapū members lost to follow up in care journeys
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Establishing the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and patient acceptability of co-management pathways for glaucoma involving community-based optometrists for ‘routine’ care and ophthalmologists for high-risk patients and surgical interventions
