Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the exact calculation methods being used to determine the offers made to people under the Health (Repayment Scheme) Act 2006; and if she is satisfied with the methods used in view of the number of people who have been offered higher payments following their appeals. [18733/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) has responsibility for administering the health repayment scheme in conjunction with the appointed scheme administrator K.P.M.G. and McCann Fitzgerald.

The HSE has informed my Department that there are extensive procedures employed by the scheme administrator in order to compile a calculation. Firstly the records of the institution are checked for in-patient charges. The scheme administrator begins by using the scanned data based on the dates of admission provided by the claimant. It is determined whether the patient paid by invoice or by the HSE acting as agent on social welfare payment or perhaps both. The calculations team compiles the calculation based on this information.

The HSE has informed my Department that if there are periods for which there are no records, the scheme administrator has worked with the HSE to devise rules to calculate the repayment. These rules are applied for these periods and compared to other years to ensure consistency. The scheme administrator also needs to ensure that the patient had full eligibility while the charges were paid.

The HSE has informed my Department that they have agreed the procedures used to compile calculations with the scheme administrator. The scheme administrator has been audited by the HSE internal audit, the Comptroller and Auditor General and reviews of the scheme have also been carried out by an external auditing firm who have all been satisfied with the procedures adopted by the scheme administrator.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when an application for a person (details supplied) for the nursing home subvention refund scheme will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18739/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Service Executive has responsibility for administering the Repayment Scheme and the information sought by the Deputy relates to matters within the area of responsibility of the Executive. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued to the Deputy.