Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 93: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if general practitioners who do not hold a GMS contract will be able to sign on patients for the doctor-only medical card along the same lines as they can sign on more than 20 medical card patients and receive payment for them without holding GMS contracts for income based medical cards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15963/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I understand the Deputy is referring to the one-off entry arrangements which applied for suitably qualified GPs, who were not general medical services, GMS, contract holders at that time, to enter the GMS scheme in July 2001 to provide services to patients who became eligible for a medical card for the first time, over 70s, under the specific budgetary provision.

On the question of the arrangements for the GP visit card, discussions with the Irish Medical Organisation are ongoing in respect of the implementation of this initiative.