Results 6,501-6,520 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services Waiting Lists (13 May 2014)

Alex White: I have asked the HSE to investigate this case and respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Prescription Charges (13 May 2014)

Alex White: The Health (Pricing and Supply of Medicines) Act 2013, which was commenced in June of last year, provides the statutory basis for the introduction of a system of generic substitution and reference pricing. Under the Act, the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) is responsible for the assessment of interchangeability of medicines. In deciding whether to add a group of medicinal products to the List...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (13 May 2014)

Alex White: HSE data shows that the number of medical cards issued, where discretion was involved has fallen in recent years. However, this is not as a result of a change in policy or a deliberate targeting of discretionary cards. Rather, it is attributable, in the main, to the fact that many people, who previously were marginally over the qualifying means thresholds, have subsequently been granted...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services Provision (13 May 2014)

Alex White: The Dental Treatment Services Scheme provides access to dental treatment for adult medical card holders. The service is provided by contracted dentists. The HSE prioritises for treatment patients with special needs, high risk patients and those who have greater clinical needs. A free oral examination every calendar year and free emergency dental treatment with a focus on relief of pain and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (13 May 2014)

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 Applications (13 May 2014)

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...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Medical Card Reviews (14 May 2014)

Alex White: While there has been a reduction in the number of discretionary medical cards, I wish to assure the Deputy that there is no policy to reduce the number of medical cards issued where discretion is involved in the assessment process. The fact is that many people who used to hold discretionary cards have been granted medical cards on income grounds because they now fall within the means...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Medical Card Reviews (14 May 2014)

Alex White: Nobody on this side of the House has ever refused to recognise there is an issue in regard to discretionary medical card provision. As I indicated in my reply, we accept that some people have been found to be ineligible following a review of the medical card granted to them under the discretionary process. We are not denying there is an issue, but we have sought to show that the extent of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Medical Card Reviews (14 May 2014)

Alex White: I am sure the Deputy does not intend it, but the figures he has given are inaccurate. Of the 77,925 or so people who were in possession of a discretionary medical card in March 2011, one third still have a medical card on a discretionary basis and approximately one half still have a medical card but not through the discretionary route. This is what Deputies opposite continue to ignore -...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Medical Card Reviews (14 May 2014)

Alex White: The Deputy is misrepresenting them.

Other Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (14 May 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos 6, 7, 9, 12, 16, 18, 21, 23, 31, 35, 39, 42, 45, 48 and 58 together. At the outset, let me again put on the record of the House that there is no policy to abolish the awarding of medical cards on discretionary grounds or to target any patient group. I welcome Deputy Kelleher's belated acknowledgement that there is no such policy in existence.

Other Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (14 May 2014)

Alex White: We will come to the practice. Neither has there been a change in the rules of awarding medical cards on discretionary grounds. The medical card scheme continues to operate such that those who suffer undue financial hardship, as assessed according to the published HSE guidelines, in the arranging of general practitioner services are awarded a medical card. While the number of medical cards...

Other Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (14 May 2014)

Alex White: Deputy Kelleher alleges there has been a change in policy, then he agrees that there is no change in policy and then he says he is unsure whether there has been a change in policy.

Other Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (14 May 2014)

Alex White: There has been no change in the policy. It has been made clear that there has been no change in the policy. What has happened is that we have had a standardisation of the application of the procedures and the guidelines and the HSE has, in fact, published these. I believe that is a good thing and I invite Deputy Kelleher to agree with me that this is a good thing in order that we can...

Other Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (14 May 2014)

Alex White: I believe in having a rules-based system and applying it fairly, transparently and honestly. This is what we want to achieve.

Other Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (14 May 2014)

Alex White: People are entitled in certain circumstances to a medical card and nobody will lose or has lost a medical card who is eligible for it and is entitled to it. This is absolutely the case.

Other Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (14 May 2014)

Alex White: Anybody who is eligible for a medical card under the system and guidelines will get it. If there are any circumstances where a Deputy suggests those eligible for medical cards do not have one, we need to know about it because if they are eligible, they will receive it. As I indicated, we had a system which had huge disparities throughout the country. We now have a fair system. Surely it...

Other Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (14 May 2014)

Alex White: I am not sure if it is the type of system the party opposite wants to see. Historically it is not how they did business.

Other Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (14 May 2014)

Alex White: This is how we should do business in future. We should make sure we have a proper rules-based system and do as the Minister and I have sought to do, which is take steps to ensure services are in place to support people who have lost out on a medical card on which they relied for a number of years, and make improvements in the services where they are needed, particularly with regard to access...

Other Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (14 May 2014)

Alex White: Deputy Murphy referred to services. It is very difficult to comment on an individual case but I entirely trust Deputy Murphy with regard to the veracity of what she stated regarding the case. The point is the services which the individual needs, such as access to physiotherapy, equipment, various devices and a wheelchair, and this is what we must ensure the person gets. We are inclined to...