Written answers

Tuesday, 30 September 2008

Department of Health and Children

Medical Cards

11:00 pm

Photo of Joanna TuffyJoanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 269: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of full medical cards issued for the years 2004 to 2008 inclusive; if she will provide the findings in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31958/08]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Details of the numbers of medical card holders are provided to my Department each month by the Health Service Executive. The figures are provided on a net basis showing the balance after new cards have been issued and other cards, as appropriate, have been deleted from the Executive's database, e.g. following a review of a person's circumstances. The following table shows the number of persons with a medical card on the dates requested by the Deputy:

YearNumber of Medical Card holders
31st December 20041,145,083
31st December 20051,155,727
31st December 20061,221,695
31st December 20071,276,178
31st August 20081,324,477

Photo of Joanna TuffyJoanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 270: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of general practitioner cards issued for the years 2005 to date in 2008; if she will provide the findings in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31959/08]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Details of the numbers of GP visit card holders are provided to my Department each month by the Health Service Executive. The figures are provided on a net basis showing the balance after new cards have been issued and other cards, as appropriate, have been deleted from the Executive's database, e.g. following a review of a person's circumstances. The table below shows the number of persons with a GP visit card on the dates requested by the Deputy:

YearNumber of GP Visit Card holders
31st December 20055,080
31st December 200651,760
31st December 200775,589
31st August 200882,198

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 271: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the details of the agreement regarding the fee per patient payable to medical practitioners in respect of medical card patients with a breakdown for each category of medical card holder. [31963/08]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Doctors holding contracts under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme with the Health Service Executive (HSE) are remunerated on the basis of the composition of their patient panel and the annual capitation rates payable reflect the age, gender and location of the patient.

A detailed list of the current rates payable is set out in tabular form below:

AgeUp to 3 Miles3-5 Miles5-7 Miles7-10 MilesOver 10 Miles
MaleFemaleMaleFemaleMaleFemaleMaleFemaleMaleFemale
up to 4 years83.5381.5787.7685.8394.0192.11100.1998.30107.85105.94
5-1550.1250.6451.8752.3954.4555.0356.9557.4960.0960.58
16-4462.89100.3865.17102.6568.54106.0071.84108.7675.89113.38
45-64121.74133.38127.20138.85135.26146.89143.20154.87153.09164.70
65-69128.04142.39143.22157.59165.77180.12187.89202.26215.42229.81
70 and over139.59154.38155.22170.06178.52193.33201.37216.20229.79244.64

A capitation rate of €640 per annum is paid to GPs for the provision of service under the GMS contract for each person who qualifies for a medical card for the first time on the basis of being aged 70 years and over in the community. In respect of medical card holders, aged 70 years and over, who are resident in a private nursing home (approved by the HSE) for any continuous period of five weeks, the GP is paid a capitation rate of €927 per annum per card holder.

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