1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,280 Speaker 1: Planned by ACC as we've outlined this morning, to dig 2 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:05,000 Speaker 1: themselves out of their fiscal hole. Without change, they're going 3 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:07,320 Speaker 1: to be twenty six billion in debt by twenty thirty. 4 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:10,559 Speaker 1: So focus on cracking down on overpaid claims, moving people 5 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 1: off scheme faster, tightening rules around what's covered, et cetera. 6 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:15,920 Speaker 1: Meghan Maine is the a SEC's chief executive and is 7 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 1: back with us for the new year. Megan Morning, Good morning, Mike. 8 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:23,079 Speaker 1: As a task, could I use the word herculean or gargantuan? 9 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 1: Would that be fair? 10 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 2: Mike? It's ambitious, you know. The turnaround plan would see 11 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 2: us getting back to a balance by twenty thirty between 12 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:39,200 Speaker 2: those lifetime costs of injuries and the investments we've got. 13 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 2: But I think it's achievable. I believe it's achievable. 14 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 1: You know. 15 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:47,479 Speaker 2: It's informed by the external review last year, it's informed 16 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:50,559 Speaker 2: by our own modeling, it's informed by the experience of 17 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 2: our own people of what our best ever performance is. 18 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 2: And the other thing, Mike is it's already paying off. 19 00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 2: We're already seeing the results, So that's what gives me 20 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 2: comp efidence. The thing I would say, though, is we're 21 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 2: doing everything we can, but we can't do this on 22 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 2: our own, and I think I spoke to you about 23 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:10,759 Speaker 2: this last time. Everyone needs to play their part so 24 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 2: that the scheme is sustainable. It's providers, it's employers supporting 25 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:19,320 Speaker 2: people to work, and it's injured people being really active 26 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 2: in their own recovery. 27 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:23,039 Speaker 1: I don't want to be unfair to a public broadcaster, 28 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 1: but I happen to hear an interview last year when 29 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 1: this thing was a topic again, And what the media 30 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 1: tend to do is they go find the poor schmuck 31 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:33,960 Speaker 1: who's been on ACC for twelve years, and he outlines 32 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 1: the endless problems he's got and how it's also unfair 33 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: and you're all a bunch of bastards. How many people 34 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 1: do you pay that really are milking the system? 35 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 2: Oh, Mike, you know, we've all heard the stories of 36 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 2: people who are taking advantage of ACC and my message 37 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 2: is always it's not a victimless crime. We're all paying 38 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 2: for that. What we're doing is through our one to 39 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 2: one case management, more and more of that. We're having 40 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 2: those early conversations with people. We're making sure they're getting 41 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:09,119 Speaker 2: the support they need, but we're also having a lot 42 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:15,079 Speaker 2: more conversations where things are off track where we need 43 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 2: to do assessments to see if people should still be 44 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 2: on the scheme. And so that's the way that we're 45 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 2: making sure that we're not taking away support from people 46 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 2: who really need it, but we're making sure people get 47 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 2: the right support for the injury that we should be funding. 48 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:31,679 Speaker 2: That's really important. 49 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 1: Can I give you one example. I don't think it's 50 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:35,800 Speaker 1: sort of the criticism of you because it comes to 51 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 1: the broad question how much of the equation here of 52 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 1: what you're trying to do is the recipient milking the 53 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:45,919 Speaker 1: system versus you guys not providing what you should in 54 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:47,080 Speaker 1: a proper way. 55 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:52,920 Speaker 2: Well, the thing in our control, Mike, is our focus 56 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 2: on doing our part of that. So we're having early 57 00:02:56,560 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 2: conversations with people, were strengthening our processes, doing more reviews. 58 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 2: But as I say, we need to make sure that 59 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 2: we're still able to give the support to people who 60 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 2: genuinely need it. But I would say, you know, I 61 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:13,959 Speaker 2: would say to all New Zealanders that we really need 62 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 2: people to do. 63 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 1: The right thing because the example I have of a 64 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 1: person I know it was they wanted to get back 65 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 1: to work, and I don't know how you solve this 66 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 1: problem but they wanted to get back to work, but 67 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: your system operates on a way that that person must 68 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:33,680 Speaker 1: return to the work they were doing instead of going, Look, 69 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 1: this injury is a bit of a problem that what 70 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 1: you were doing you probably can't do for another six months. 71 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 1: How about we point you in this direction somewhere knew 72 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 1: where you can work. Do you see what I'm saying? 73 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, And look, it's really hard to talk about individual cases, 74 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 2: but I hear what you're saying, and we've got to 75 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 2: make sure that we're putting that return to work at 76 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 2: the center of the plan for someone's recovery. 77 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, but the return to what work is that the 78 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 1: specific work they were doing, and unless they can do 79 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 1: that specific work, they'll never return to work potentially or 80 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 1: could you have a set of rules, regulations whatever where 81 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: you go. Look, all we are looking to do is 82 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 1: to get you back to the workforce, or you can 83 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 1: you're allowed to do to. 84 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:17,039 Speaker 2: Talk about individual cases, because that's exactly what we should 85 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:21,920 Speaker 2: be doing. If someone can't return to their previous job, 86 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 2: then we absolutely look to get them work ready for 87 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 2: something else, right, And we're doing a lot of that 88 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 2: at the moment. So it's hard to talk about but. 89 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 1: Does that work? Is that a successful approach? 90 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:40,440 Speaker 2: Well, our role is to get someone able to be 91 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,599 Speaker 2: independent enough to get back into the workforce, not to 92 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 2: not to actually be responsible for them getting a different job. 93 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:52,680 Speaker 1: Oh that's interesting because in the circumstance I'm giving you, 94 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:54,839 Speaker 1: that wasn't the case, That wasn't the message that was 95 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 1: being sent by you people. 96 00:04:56,920 --> 00:05:00,919 Speaker 2: Well, I would encourage your contact to reach out to 97 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:01,599 Speaker 2: their case. 98 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 1: They're better in the back of the workforce, and they 99 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:06,360 Speaker 1: couldn't kill They've all moved on. My other concern for you, Megan, 100 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 1: is how come so many of us are on a 101 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:11,600 Speaker 1: sec This is abnormal. I mean two million claims a year. 102 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:14,919 Speaker 1: I mean, come on, Micah. 103 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 2: I know we've talked about this before, and I know 104 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:22,279 Speaker 2: you're one of our gold standard people without claims. You 105 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:25,360 Speaker 2: know a lot of those claims are very minor. We've 106 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:27,559 Speaker 2: got to remember that. You know, at any one time, 107 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:32,160 Speaker 2: of those two million, they are about one hundred thousands 108 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 2: that we're actively managing. Now that is still a lot. 109 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 2: And you know this comes back to having take care. 110 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:43,359 Speaker 2: The big increase we're seeing in accidents and injuries is 111 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 2: around the home and in the community. That's where it 112 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 2: is very preventable, and we want people to stay safe. 113 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 2: That's ultimately the best way that we all have this 114 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 2: scheme fifty years into the future, well and beyond. 115 00:05:58,040 --> 00:05:59,599 Speaker 1: All I can do, Megan is wish you the very 116 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 1: best of luck and we'll stay in touch, Meghan Maine, 117 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 1: who's the ACC chief Executive. But as I outlined on 118 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 1: the program earlier on the number of people on long 119 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 1: term claims is doubled, the cost of healthcare or providing 120 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:13,159 Speaker 1: that care each year over the past ten years has doubled. 121 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:16,239 Speaker 1: So the population hasn't doubled, yet the number of people 122 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:19,080 Speaker 1: on long term care has. The cost of inflation or 123 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:21,360 Speaker 1: health or the cost of living hasn't doubled, and yet 124 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 1: the cost of providing that care has. So that's where 125 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 1: they start. I guess. For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, 126 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:30,600 Speaker 1: listen live to news talks it'd be from six am weekdays, 127 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:33,160 Speaker 1: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.