Written answers

Tuesday, 3 March 2009

Department of Health and Children

General Medical Services Scheme

10:00 pm

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 212: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the estimate of the expenditure savings from the introduction of a €5 maximum monthly charge on drug purchases for medical card holders. [8914/09]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 213: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the estimate of the expenditure savings from the introduction of a €10 maximum monthly co-payment for drug purchases for medical card holders. [8915/09]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 212 and 213 together.

I understand that in 2007 the number of prescriptions presented under the GMS scheme was 14.8 million and the number of items dispensed was 44m. On that basis, a simple €10 charge per prescription would raise €148m and a €10 charge per item would raise €440m. This figure should be treated with extreme caution as the actual amount that might be collected depends on a number of variables, for example, whether the co-payment would apply per item, per prescription, per person or per family; whether a charge less than the maximum would be payable; and whether any exemptions would apply. The proposed method of collection may also be relevant as an administrative cost. If the Deputy would like to specify in more detail the type of co-payment rules he has in mind, I would be pleased to have his proposals costed.

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 214: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the estimate of the Exchequer expenditure savings from the introduction of a €10 maximum monthly co-payment for general practitioner visits by medical card holders; and if these payments were deducted in the annual capitation fee under the primary care reimbursement service. [8916/09]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has the operational and funding responsibility for the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme, which includes the medical card and GP visit card benefits. Most recent figures provided to my Department by the HSE show there were 1,352,120 medical card holders as at 1st January 2009. Some 2,100 General Practitioners (GPs) have contracts with the HSE for the provision of services under the GMS Scheme. Over 99% of these GPs hold the 1989 Capitation contract, under which the GP is paid a set fee each year for each person on his/her GMS panel. The fee varies for cardholders depending on their age, gender and distance of their residence from the GP's surgery. The number of visits by a patient to a GP each year does not affect the capitation fee. The HSE does not record the number of visits by GMS patients to GPs as such statistics are not required in assessing the annual capitation fee paid to the GP.

The Central Statistics Office's Quarterly National Household Survey for the third quarter in 2007 (as published in October 2008) shows the average number of GP visits per GMS patient is 5.2 visits per year. On this basis, the introduction of a €10 monthly co-payment for GP visits would yield €70.3m. However this figure should be treated with extreme caution as the actual amount that might be collected depends on a number of variables, for example, the frequency distribution of such visits (whether distributed evenly across the year or concentrated in particular months), whether the €10 monthly limit applied to each medical card holder or to each family group, and whether capitation payments to general practitioners were to be reduced to reflect the co-payments. If the Deputy would like to specify in more detail the type of co-payment rules he has in mind, I would be pleased to have his proposals costed.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.