Results 3,721-3,740 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Topical Issue Debate: Medical Card Eligibility (1 May 2013)

Alex White: The Deputy must accept that because it is factual. The Deputy asked me how it was consistent with the policy of free GP care. It is not inconsistent with that.

Topical Issue Debate: Medical Card Eligibility (1 May 2013)

Alex White: This is difficult but the Deputy saw the level of cuts that had to be made. There is no doubt that it is extremely difficult but when we examine the various options, and we had to examine the options, we found every one of them difficult. Does the Deputy believe there is any adverse change or cut with which anybody on this side of the House feels comfortable? The answer is "No". We want...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (1 May 2013)

Alex White: Medical cards are not awarded to any particular group of patients on the basis of a specific medical condition. Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, eligibility for health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means. There are currently two categories of eligibility for all persons ordinarily resident in Ireland i.e. full eligibility (medical card) and limited...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (1 May 2013)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Appeals (1 May 2013)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage (1 May 2013)

Alex White: There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Long Term Illness Scheme. Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines. In addition, people who...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (2 May 2013)

Alex White: Following the centralisation of the overall management of the GMS Scheme to PCRS in July 2011, the assessment methodology applied to applications, that include supporting documentation to indicate that the applicant (or dependent(s), where applicable) has a medical condition, are outlined below. Where the combined income of an applicant and spouse/partner is over the Medical Card or GP...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (2 May 2013)

Alex White: The Medical Card/GP Visit Card National Assessment Guidelines, including the guidelines which deal with income in excess of the Medical Card Guidelines and undue hardship, are available on the HSE website.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Reimbursement Service Payments (2 May 2013)

Alex White: Under the Health Act 1970, as amended, the HSE is responsible for assessing an individual's entitlement to a medical card and a GP visit card. Section 45 provides that adult persons who, in the opinion of the HSE are unable, without due hardship, to arrange general practitioner medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependents are deemed to be persons with full eligibility. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Reimbursement Service Payments (2 May 2013)

Alex White: I can confirm that the DPS monthly threshold is considered in the overall assessment of applications for a medical card/GP Visit Card in the determination of medical costs where an applicant provides supporting documentation to indicate that he/she -or dependents - have a medical condition.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Reimbursement Service Payments (2 May 2013)

Alex White: The prescription charges, referred to by the Deputy, only apply to persons who have eligibility under the GMS Scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Reimbursement Service Payments (2 May 2013)

Alex White: Under the Health Act 1970, as amended, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is responsible for assessing an individual's entitlement to a medical card and a GP visit card. Section 45 of the Act provides that adult persons who, in the opinion of the HSE are unable, without due hardship, to arrange general practitioner medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependents are deemed...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (2 May 2013)

Alex White: The Medical Card/GP Visit Card National Assessment Guidelines provide for consideration of income that is derived solely from allowances/benefits paid by the Department of Social Protection or the HSE that which are in excess of the Income Guidelines. In 2009, a new scheme was introduced for people aged 70 years and over. This new scheme set a significantly higher gross income limit for a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Bodies (2 May 2013)

Alex White: The Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health and its sub-committees have broad representation from areas such as dentistry, toxicology, biochemistry, environmental health and public health medicine. Given that there is a toxicologist on the New and Emerging Issues sub-committee, the appointment of a toxicologist to the Expert Body is not currently being considered.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres Provision (2 May 2013)

Alex White: Carrickmacross is one of the 35 potential locations for primary care centres to be developed by means of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) project as announced in the July 2012 Infrastructure Stimulus Package. Of the 35, approximately 20 will be offered to the market subject to a) agreement between the local GPs and the HSE on active local GP involvement in the centres and b) site...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres Provision (2 May 2013)

Alex White: Kells is one of the 35 potential locations for primary care centres to be developed by means of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) project as announced in the July 2012 Infrastructure Stimulus Package. Of the 35, approximately 20 will be offered to the market subject to a) agreement between the local GPs and the HSE on active local GP involvement in the centres and b) site suitability and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Reviews (2 May 2013)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Supply (8 May 2013)

Alex White: The problem of the misuse of prescription drugs has been recognised at national, European and international levels. Through the framework of the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016, the Department of Health is working in collaboration with the relevant statutory agencies to monitor the availability of controlled drugs, including prescription medicines, through illicit channels. Under the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (8 May 2013)

Alex White: I have asked the Health Service Executive for a report on the issue raised by the Deputy. I will revert to the Deputy on the matter as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Water Fluoridation (8 May 2013)

Alex White: The Health (Fluoridation of Water Supplies Act) 1960 provides for the fluoridation of public water supplies. At present fluoridation facilities are installed in approximately 250 water treatment plants nationally. Water treatment plants developed in the future will also have such facilities. The total cost of fluoridation since it began in 1964 is not readily available. Annual expenditure...