Written answers

Tuesday, 25 April 2006

Department of Health and Children

Medical Cards

9:00 pm

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 206: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that the Health Service Executive ceases the practice of requiring annual renewal of medical cards for people with an intellectual disability. [14743/06]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the assessment of initial applications for medical cards and the review-renewal of existing cards.

Reviews of eligibility of medical card holders are necessary to ensure that the HSE's medical card database is accurate and public accountability issues are addressed. The periodic review of eligibility and the frequency of such reviews are matters for the HSE to consider and determine. The HSE takes into account the particular circumstances of each case when setting renewal dates.

Among the aims of the HSE's schemes modernisation project is to standardise business processes and their implementation across the HSE in respect of the general medical services and related schemes to ensure a system which is fair, patient-centred and transparent and at the same time provides proper governance. In this regard, the HSE has prepared and is now implementing operational guidelines which cover a number of areas relevant to the medical card assessment process, including setting renewal dates. This includes the appropriate approach to review dates for people with chronic illnesses and conditions.

The Department has asked the HSE to keep its procedures in this area under review to ensure they achieve the appropriate balance between recognising the circumstances of medical card holders and meeting public accountability and governance requirements.

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