Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 278: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a medical card will be renewed for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [3144/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 279: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the medical card will be renewed in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [3147/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 280: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the average time it takes to process an application for the over 70 years medical card; the number of applications that have been made; the number granted since the changes were introduced; her plans to expedite the processing time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3155/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Details of the number of medical cards and GP visit cards are provided to my Department each month by the Health Service Executive (HSE). 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 most recent figures provided to my Department by the HSE reflect the position on 31st December 2009 and show 1,478,560 medical card holders on that date, of whom 337,519 were aged 70 and over. The Health Service Executive, with my full support, has decided to centralise the processing of all medical card and GP visit card applications and renewals at its Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) in Dublin.

The process commenced in January 2009 when the PCRS took over the processing of all medical card applications for persons aged 70 or over. The second phase commenced in September 2009 with the transfer of the case load from two local health offices (LHOs) in Dublin to the PCRS.

In 2009, the PCRS processed over 72,000 medical card applications. This included nearly 42,000 reviews. In relation to these reviews, 85% of cases where the required information was supplied were completed within 20 days and 95% within 30 days. The HSE has no control over delays where relevant information is not provided but it has confirmed that when the required information is received, the review is processed without further delay.

The HSE has advised that when fully implemented, the initiative to centralise the processing of all medical card and GP visit card applications and renewals will ensure:

Improved turnaround times for processing of applications: under the new arrangements the HSE will be aiming for a turnaround time of 15 working days or less, with provision for emergency applications to be dealt with immediately;

Consistent and equitable application of eligibility and service provision;

Clearer governance and accountability, as well as improved management information; and

A reduction in the overall number of staff required to process medical/GP visit card applications, thus freeing up staff for other service needs.

As parts of the information sought by the Deputy are not provided by the HSE to my Department as a matter of routine, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to address these matters and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 281: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a decision will be made on an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon; the reason for the delay in processing the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3157/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.