Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties being encountered by VHI subscribers attending public hospitals, where care is provided by consultants on Type A contracts (details supplied); her views on whether this situation must be resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36598/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Patients admitted to hospital under the care of a consultant holding a Type A contract are deemed to be public patients. Under the current eligibility framework, a patient must be categorised as public or private on admission to a public hospital. It is not open to a patient to opt to have both public and private status during a single episode of care. As the regulator of the private health insurance market, I have no role to play in the day-to-day running and commercial decisions of private health insurers.