Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if analysis has been carried out on the effect the provision of medical cards to all over 70s has had on hospital attendances, accident and emergency visits, general practitioner visits, increased medication, investigations and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27958/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Since July 2001, all persons aged 70 and over have a statutory entitlement to a medical card. Information provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to my Department indicates that as of 1 October 2007, 343,975 persons aged 70 or over held a medical card. General Practitioners who hold a General Medical Services (GMS) contract with the HSE to provide services to medical card patients receive an annual capitation fee for each client according to a client's age, sex and the distance of their residence from the GP's centre of practice, regardless of the number of patient visits in the year.

Data is collected by the Health Service Executive in relation to costs in the General Medical Services Scheme and in relation to medical card holders' usage of hospital services, including in-patient and accident & emergency services. However, as this data does not capture information in relation to the basis on which a person qualified for a medical card, it would not enable an analysis of what effect the provision of medical cards to all persons over 70 may have had on usage of health services.