Those in locations designated R2 and R3 will be eligible for funding
The people of Murchison in the South Island qualify as a priority population for certain categories of community COVID funding, as depicted on a map adopted by Te Whatu Ora to define rural areas.
Murchison is in an “R3” area on the mapping system called the Geographic Classification for Health. It’s a system that was produced by researchers at the University of Otago and the University of Waikato last year.
Roxburgh is another R3 town, as are Lake Tekapo, Fox Glacier, National Park, Colville and the Chatham Islands.
R2 towns include Kaikoura, Cheviot, Westport, Wānaka, Gore, Hāwera, Te Kuiti, Thames, Whangamatā, Mangawhai, Kerikeri and Ahipara.
The interactive map can be viewed here. As well as rural R1, 2 and 3 categories, there are urban U1 and 2.
Te Whatu Ora relies on the map in its 1 July document updating the primary care sector on which categories of patients are eligible for funding of COVID-19 care in the community.
Under the sub-heading “Rural and Remote”, the document says, “Those in locations designated R2 and R3 will be eligible for funding.” The document also says rural and remote people are among those defined as priority populations, which is another concept used in describing who qualifies for funding.
For instance, those who meet the access criteria for COVID antivirals or are in one of the priority populations are eligible for funding of $90 (in office hours) or $135 (after hours) for proactive clinical assessment.
