Results 6,481-6,500 of 26,037 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: Mr. O'Brien will appreciate that the majority of people aged over 70 did not get their cards on a discretionary basis, they got them on a means basis. I will deal with the anomaly. Am I correct on the general point relating to those aged under 70, that the HSE is awaiting a Government decision on the restoration of medical cards?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: Mr. O'Brien is awaiting Government decision on the restoration of the discretionary medical cards in terms of policy.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: We find the biggest issue with the over 70s is that they are a much older age group and the medical card is very important to them, and that is not to negate its importance to others. As a cohort they are getting letters about reviews and in terms of this month, if they do not have the information in by 16 June, their card will be withdrawn by the end of June. There is a human story to this...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: The discretionary medical card for those over 70 is based on gross income.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: If the medical card of a person under 70 comes up for review and the Health Service Executive decides that the person is no longer entitled to it based on their means, if they appeal that on discretionary grounds they hold their card for the duration of the appeal process.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: Correct, if they have one currently. I am someone who has a medical card. The HSE writes to me informing me it is reviewing my medical card. If I find that I can no longer hold it on means grounds, I can then apply on discretionary grounds and hold my medical card for the duration of the appeal period on discretionary grounds.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: No-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: No. I am saying that if the HSE writes to someone under 70 stating it is reviewing their medical card, they return the information and the decision is that they are no longer able to hold the card on, say, means grounds, they can then appeal on discretionary medical basis but they will hold their medical card for the duration of that process.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: Whereas someone over 70 cannot apply for a discretionary medical card.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: They can only apply for it once their over 70s medical card has been withdrawn.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: If someone has an over 70s medical card on means grounds-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: I know that but if they fail the means grounds they can only apply for a discretionary card once their over 70s card has been withdrawn.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: Is Mr. Hennessy telling me that they can apply for the discretionary card and they would hold their over 70s card for the duration of that appeal?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am talking about that category.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is a different point. Can I move on to Limerick Regional Hospital because it is an issue I put the witnesses on notice-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: The letter does not state when the card will be withdrawn. Elderly people are getting letters saying they must reply within two or three months. In this case they must have the information back by 16 June. Many elderly people return it early and they get no letter of any description from the HSE stating that their card will be withdrawn.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am dealing with them every day of the week. I know that.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: On Limerick Regional Hospital, has Mr. O'Brien read the Health Information and Quality Authority report?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: He is well aware, therefore, that the accident and emergency department in Limerick Regional Hospital is not fit for purpose and that the overcrowding is unacceptable. What is the delay in the new accident and emergency department being built? I understand from the main contractor, Sisk, that the shell of the accident and emergency department is built and ready for a fit-out. Sisk is about...