Results 4,061-4,080 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (10 Dec 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 Applications (10 Dec 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: Prescription Charges (10 Dec 2013)

Alex White: As announced in Budget 2014, it has become necessary to increase the prescription charge due to the very difficult and challenging economic environment which requires the Government to achieve additional savings in health expenditure with €666 million of savings targeted in 2014. The increase in prescription charges will account for €43 million of this target. The Government is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Medical Services Scheme Administration (10 Dec 2013)

Alex White: The General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme requires medical card and GP visit card holders to choose their GP from a list of locally based doctors who hold a GMS contract. Where a GP retires from the GMS scheme and the HSE is planning to assign the retiring GP’s panel to a new GP after open competition, the HSE may, in the interim, assign persons on the retiring GP’s panel to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Application Numbers (10 Dec 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 Eligibility (10 Dec 2013)

Alex White: Under the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS), an individual or family only has to pay €144 each month for approved prescribed drugs, medicines and certain appliances for use by that person or his or her family in that month. The definition of a family for this Scheme is an adult, their spouse, and any children under 18 years. Dependants over 18 years and under 23 years who are in full time...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medical Card Appeals (5 Dec 2013)

Alex White: I thank Senator Moran for raising this issue. By the end of October last, there were over 1,860,000 medical cards issued by the Health Service Executive, HSE. This represents an increase of over 60% in the number of medical cards, or 700,000 individuals, since the end of 2005. Over 40% of the national population now holds a medical card, compared to 27% at the end of 2005. Under the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medical Card Appeals (5 Dec 2013)

Alex White: I understand the Senator’s points. I do not know the individual specific circumstances of the case. There is a process in place for an appeal. It is a matter for the appeals officer to make a decision. I can only advise the House on what the processes are and how they should be invoked in these circumstances. The Minister does not have a role in this.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medical Card Appeals (5 Dec 2013)

Alex White: There are clear processes in place. If the process is not working in the way I have advised then, of course, I would have a role in ensuring the process is properly and correctly followed. As for the individual case in question, that is matter for appeal.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Alex White: Do not mind Sinn Féin, Senator.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Alex White: That is Fianna Fáil passing over things.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Alex White: Fianna Fáil did not favour it before the election but now throws it at us for not doing so.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Alex White: Fianna Fáil is using it as a stick to beat us with but it did not advocate the provision before. The taxation system is an important instrument to achieve equity in society and the economy rather than means testing something as vital as health care. The health care system is bedevilled by the means-test culture. I say that personally but hopefully not just on my own behalf. We want to...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Alex White: Having universal access to a GP without fees is the best way of doing so. I am grateful for Sinn Féin's qualified support of the measure but I do not quite understand Fianna Fáil's position. I have no doubt that we will have further opportunities to discuss the matter.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Alex White: We will see if Fianna Fáil still opposes such a progressive measure when it is rolled out in the spring of next year. I thank the Senators for their contributions. Senator Colm Burke rightly praised the Government's planned approach to reforms. As I have said and shall repeat, my vision of universal primary care is one of full universal access to GP care without fees. It should be the...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Alex White: I thank Senators for their contributions. Very interesting points were raised in the course of the debate. I will start by referring to two points made by Senator Deirdre Clune. On the extent to which the Government has acted in a proportionate way in its actions in respect of eligibility for people over 70 years, the Senator brought a measure of balance to the debate by pointing out, as I...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Alex White: No disrespect was taken.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Alex White: I wish to outline the Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013 to the Members of Seanad Éireann, and I look forward to hearing the views of the Senators in the course of the Second Stage debate. The Bill amends the Health Act 1970, as amended, principally section 45A and section 48A, to take account of the changes to the eligibility criteria for medical cards...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Data (5 Dec 2013)

Alex White: Responses to PQs no. 524 (41832/13), no. 133 (43725/13) and no. 138 (43738/13) have recently issued to the Deputy. I have sought updates on the status of the outstanding responses and will revert immediately to the Deputy once these responses have been received.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Delays (5 Dec 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...