ACC Minister Nick Smith says the system is being clogged by insurance company requirements that patients needing elective surgery be declined by the Accident Compensation Corporation first.
Dr Smith says orthopedic surgeons and corporation personnel have raised concerns that the requirements force them to file ACC claims that have no chance of being accepted.
He says the requirements have been in place for the past few years and have resulted in ACC having a rejection rate for elective surgery claims of up to 20%.
Dr Smith says the Government wants orthopedic surgeons to flag insurance claims so they can be processed quickly.
