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2018 info below
If you need Genital Reconstruction Surgery (GRS) or other transition and affirmation surgeries, you may be eligible to have them covered by public funding. This funding is known as the Special High Cost Treatment Pool, which is managed by the Ministry of Health, and needs to be applied for by your specialist (such as an endocrinologist or a sexual health doctor), on a case by case basis.
The purpose of Special High Cost Treatment Pool is to
- ensure equitable access throughout the country to Special High Cost Treatments
- manage the financial risk for certain highly specialised procedures which pose a risk due to their unknown or fluctuating costs
- promote the use of cost effective procedures in the public health care system
Special High Cost Treatments include the following
- medical treatment overseas
- treatment not currently available within the public health system
- complex cases
Who can apply?
Applications will only be accepted from DHB specialists supported by the responsible DHB manager whose name will be on the contract once application is approved, along with supporting documentation and recommendations for treatment
Eligibility and criteria:
Access to the Special High Cost Treatment Pool will be determined by the Senior Advisor, and a panel of relevant Ministry officials in the context of the Ministry’s statutory objectives and functions.
In reaching decisions on access to the Treatment Pool, the Senior Advisor and panel will have regard to the eligibility criteria below, and to the applicant’s individual circumstances.
Special High Cost Treatment Overseas
- The treatment being sought must not be available in New Zealand
- The treatment has proven efficacy when applied in regular practice
- The chosen treatment is cost effective which means that:
1. the expected long term savings to the health care system outweigh the initial costs of the treatment; and/or
2. the dollar cost for the expected benefit are acceptable when evaluated against other MoH priorities
3. Failure to receive the treatment could result in serious irreversible deterioration of the patient’s condition or an inability to recover lost function, or significant impairment to normal development of a child; or
4. Failure to receive the treatment could deny an adult with a lifelong disability access to treatment which would lead to a marked improvement in their quality of life.
How to get on the list
To get on the High Cost Treatment Pool waiting list for public funded bottom surgery you need a specialist to refer you.
Two specialists who could refer you are a sexual health doctor, or an endocrinologist. There may also be others – they simply have to be ”a DHB specialist” to the best of our knowledge.
Here is the form that you and your referring specialist need to fill out, and it includes where to send it.
HCTP-GRS Application Form-Current 2018
Filling in the application form
Bear the above objectives in mind when answering the following ‘Clinical Details’ questions, below in blue. Examples have been added for demonstration only, you will need to give your own answers.
We recommend you write down your answers, and take them with you when you go to see your specialist.
Notes on clinical details which may be included
This application is for
eg Medical treatment overseas, Medical treatment not currently available within the public health system (as per above info)
Degree of urgency
eg As soon as surgery is possible
Details of diagnosis, history, and treatment required
eg MtF transgender. Awareness of female gender (with dysphoria) since childhood. Seen psychologist and endo and began HRT 2014. Diagnosed with gender dysphoria by psychiatrist 2015, recommended for surgery.
Where is the treatment currently available – NZ or overseas?
There are currently no NZ specialists
Your chosen provider’s details go here
Reason/s for referral to chosen provider
You have researched options, tell them that and make your case
You have one paragraph tops, around 30 – 60 words
What evidence is there that this treatment is effective (please attach evidence in the form of journal articles etc. the articles must be provided in full either in herd or electronic copy)
eg This is now a standard vaginoplasty, practised around the globe by dozens of surgeons.
Evidence is not needed as this is now a common practise
What would be the effect of receiving this treatment
Make your case here, eg alleviate your lifelong suffering and allow you to carry out simple tasks like using the bathroom. Make you comfortable to wear your clothing, be intimate with partners, go swimming, etc.
You have one paragraph, around 30 – 60 words max
What would be the effect of not receiving this treatment
Make your case here, eg trauma and dysphoria every day, bladder infections due to not using public toilets, long term depression and suicidality, etc.
You have one paragraph, around 30 – 60 words max
This patient has the additional current/past medical conditions
eg Asthma
Financial information
Estimated full cost of all components of treatment (GST exclusive) in NZD (estimate required on provider letterhead)
eg ”Costs will be defined accurately when application is accepted”
It is not usually possible to receive quotes on letterhead unless a consultation has taken place, but as this is overseas it’s not often possible. Figures for vaginoplasty surgery are around $30,000NZD in Thailand, where phalloplasty and metiodioplasty start from around $35,000NZD
The Ministry of Health resource pages
Gender Reassignment Health Services for Trans People Within New Zealand
