Results 10,481-10,500 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: I could not agree more and it is welcome that the committee has taken up this point. I hope the issue will receive an airing in the media. People should be prepared to contact their insurers when they believe they have paid health care providers for treatments they did not receive or for additional days during which they were not in hospital. I am sure the insurers do not wish to pay out...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: I move amendment No. 9: In page 10, paragraph (a)(i), line 42, to delete " "90" " and substitute " "60" ".My priority is implementation of a robust risk equalisation scheme, while minimising the impact on an insurer's ability to carry on its business. However, in response to market proliferation of products - I mentioned that while the figure provided in this regard was €200 plus, in...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: My advice is that this is unnecessary and would only complicate matters. Provisions exist to ensure the Oireachtas has a strong hand in these matters through the primary legislation. It is important to state it is not that the legislation is passed and that is it. Each time the primary legislation is changed, it must come back to the Oireachtas which must vote on it.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: I move amendment No. 4: In page 8, to delete lines 4 and 5 and substitute the following:" 'advanced cover' shall be construed in accordance with section 11E(4);".Amendments Nos. 4 and 7 propose the deletion of the definition of non-advanced and advanced products as defined in section 11E. Amendment No. 17 provides replacement definitions for them. Since I published the Bill, the Department...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: The reality is that all the activity is covered in the public hospital, whether a bed, a day case or day surgery.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: To reflect what is in the marketplace. There are side-room fees in private hospitals whereas in public hospitals it is generally a bed.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: We are. This is the goal and part of the further policy to which I alluded with regard to reducing the cost of private health care.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: The amendment is to address the deficit the Deputy just highlighted and he is quite right.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: It is to address the issue the Deputy has raised. This is why it reads as it does. A relevant contract provides health insurance cover for not more than 66% of the full cost of hospital charges in a private hospital, or not more than the prescribed minimum payment within the meaning of the Health Insurance Act 1994 (Minimum Benefit) Regulations 1996, whichever is the greater. Any other...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: I thank the Deputy. I appreciate it. It is good to know Deputy Ó Caoláin is on the ball and keeping me on my toes.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: I move amendment No. 5: In page 8, line 38, after "stay" to insert ", on or after 31 March 2013,".Following consultation with insurers I have decided to commence the new risk equalisation rates from 31 March 2013. This is reflected in amendments Nos. 5 and 6. This period will provide a very useful window of time to insurers to trade into the new scheme. A hospital stay incurred under...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: I move amendment No. 6: In page 8, line 42, to delete "1 January" and substitute "31 March".

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: I move amendment No. 7: In page 8, between lines 44 and 45, to insert the following:" 'non-advanced cover' shall be construed in accordance with section 11E(4);".

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: I move amendment No. 8: In page 9, to delete lines 6 and 7 and substitute the following:" 'private hospital accommodation' means--(a) accommodation in a private hospital, whether or not in a bed, or (b) accommodation in a publicly funded hospital in a bed which is designated, pursuant to Article (8)(i) of the Health Services (In-Patient) Regulations 1991 (S.I. No. 135 of 1991), as a...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: I want to record that I do not accept medical inflation of 9%. To paraphrase John Donne, nobody lives on an island entirely unto itself. When everything else is reducing in price the cost of medical care should be reducing also. In a more general sense, that is why we are trying to cut the cost of care as opposed to cutting the service.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: I move amendment No. 2: In page 5, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following: “ “ 'authorised officer' means a person appointed under section 18E to be an authorised officer;”.The definition of "net premium" is amended in respect of health insurance contracts elected on or after 1 January 2013. It is to take account of the part, if any, of the premium to be paid...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: I appreciate the sentiment but if I explain the position the Deputy might be reassured. Unlike the previous risk equalisation scheme of 2003, which was mainly set out in regulations, the new scheme, including the rates for risk equalisation, credits and stamp duty levies, is strengthened in future by being set in primary legislation and the Houses will have ample opportunity to discuss the...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: Yes.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: It is currently going through the House.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Nov 2012)

James Reilly: As I said, unlike previous equalisation schemes such as the one in 2003 which were mainly set out in regulations the new scheme, including the rates for risk equalisation credits and stamp duty levies, will be set in future in primary legislation. It is unnecessary to bring them in in draft form and then have them introduced through primary legislation.