Results 6,521-6,540 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Other Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (14 May 2014)

Alex White: It is true some of the decisions made in respect of the mechanics of how the process is implemented, some of the overbureaucratising of the process, some of the delays which have happened and some of the mistakes which have happened in the implementation and administration of the system are indefensible. There is absolutely no doubt about this in my mind and I have no difficulty repeating...

Other Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (14 May 2014)

Alex White: -----but the Oireachtas makes the laws. The Minister does not make the law, the Oireachtas does, and we must carry it out. No Minister or HSE-----

Other Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (14 May 2014)

Alex White: The Deputy is very excitable.

Other Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (14 May 2014)

Alex White: The Deputy should understand that no Minister or the HSE can award directly a medical card outside the legislation this House has passed. While the Deputy stated he was reluctant to bring up individual cases, he then of course went on to so do. However, I can tell him that in respect of the particular court case to which he referred, the HSE has been in touch with that family in a sensitive...

Other Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (14 May 2014)

Alex White: I do recognise the pain, the difficulties and the dilemma that families face in these circumstances. I also understand and am aware of many individual cases in which people have felt confronted by such a situation. I also accept what the Deputy has just stated, which is that sometimes, it can appear to be quite a maze to people who perhaps are faced suddenly with a situation in which they...

Other Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (14 May 2014)

Alex White: At present, the long-term illness system is based on illness while the medical card system is based on means. There are huge inconsistencies about which nothing was done historically and the Government now is moving towards a universal system. This is a time of transition and I accept it is extremely difficult to defend some of the things in the existing inadequate system, while at the same...

Other Questions: Health Insurance Regulation (14 May 2014)

Alex White: What about the Commission on Taxation findings?

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Administration (14 May 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 15 and 43 together. The HSE National Service Plan for 2014 projects that there will be 1,875,707 medical cards for 2014. This projection is based on the HSE’s analysis of recent trends and the impact of budgetary decisions. The medical card scheme is a demand led scheme. Persons who currently do not hold a medical card could become eligible due...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (14 May 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 19, 20, 50 and 191 together. As I have previously stated in this House, the Government is committed to introducing a universal GP service without fees, on a phased basis, within its term of office. The Government's vision for primary care is the development of a single-tier system where access is based on medical need and not on ability to pay. As...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Administration (14 May 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 30 together. Under the Health Act, 1970, eligibility for a medical card is based on whether a person is unable, without undue hardship, to arrange GP services for themselves and their family, having regard to their overall financial situation and reasonable expenditure. Under the legislation, having a particular illness or disability, in itself, does...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Administration (14 May 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 32 and 36 together. Following Budget 2013 decisions, changes to the gross income thresholds for over 70’s medical cards were effective from April 2013. The changes also provided for those over 70's medical card holders, whose income fell between the revised income limits and the preceding income limits, to receive a GP visit card instead of a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Data (14 May 2014)

Alex White: As of 1 April 2014, 87,826 persons in County Donegal held medical card eligibility. Of that figure, 1,831 medical cards were granted involving discretion, where medical or social circumstances indicated financial hardship in arranging GP services. At 1 April 2013, 90,812 persons held medical card eligibility and, of this figure, 1,872 were granted involving discretion. Eligibility for a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Administration (14 May 2014)

Alex White: While the number of medical cards issued where discretion was involved has fallen in recent years 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 medical cards because they...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Services Provision (14 May 2014)

Alex White: The HSE is responsible for the administration of the primary care schemes, therefore, I have referred this matter to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (14 May 2014)

Alex White: Medical cards are provided to persons who are in the opinion of the HSE unable without undue hardship to arrange GP services for themselves and their dependants. Under the legislation, assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the means, including the income and reasonable expenditure, of the applicant and his or her partner and dependants. Determination of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes Policy (14 May 2014)

Alex White: I assume that the Deputy is referring to the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016 Annual Progress Report for 2013, which was published on the Department of Health website on 26 March 2014. Solid progress is being made across the 63 Actions of the Strategy, which are based around the five pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research and a number of actions are...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (14 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 Administration (14 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 Eligibility (14 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 Delays (14 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...