Written answers

Tuesday, 1 July 2008

Department of Health and Children

Medical Cards

10:00 pm

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 288: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will report on a complaint received by this Deputy that GMS or medical card patients are being charged €80 for ultrasound tests which have been ordered by their general practitioners (details supplied); if she will confirm if this is true; if such charges exist in other areas and hospitals; if it is her policy and Health Service Executive policy to charge medical card patients for such services taking into account that anyone who holds a medical card is on approximately 50% of the minimum wage, or an elderly pensioner or maybe critically ill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25882/08]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Full eligibility for health services is granted to persons who, in the opinion of the Health Service Executive, are unable to provide general practitioner, medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants without undue hardship. In general, eligibility for medical cards is determined following an examination of the means of the applicant and his/her dependants (income and relevant outgoings). The main exception is persons aged 70 and over, who have an automatic statutory entitlement to a medical card.

Persons with full eligibility are entitled to general practitioner services, prescribed drugs, medicines and appliances, all in-patient public hospital services in public wards including consultant services, all out-patient public hospital services including consultant services, dental, ophthalmic and aural services and appliances, child health services, home nursing and a maternity and infant care service.

Under the Health Act 2004, the management and delivery of health and personal social services are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to address this matter and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 289: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on introducing an exemption from the inpatient hospital charge for persons who have a general practitioners services card; the cost of such a change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25889/08]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The GP visit card was introduced in 2005 as a graduated benefit, with the specific purpose that people on moderate and lower incomes, particularly parents of young children, who do not qualify for a medical card would not be deterred on cost grounds from visiting their general practitioner. The necessary amendments to the Health Act 1970 were enacted by way of the Health (Amendment) Act 2005. The income guidelines used by the HSE to assess applications for GP visit cards are 50% higher than those used in assessing applications for medical cards. As of 1 June, 2008, 80,035 persons held a GP visit card.

The range of general practitioner services available to holders of a GP visit card is the same as is available to persons who hold a medical card. In all other respects holders of a GP visit card have limited eligibility for health services. I do not intend extending the benefits attaching to the GP Visit Card beyond that for which it was originally designed. The costs of exempting GP Visit Card holders from hospital charges would be very difficult to quantify, as hospitals have no need to record a patients public eligibility status other than if they hold a Medical Card.

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