Written answers

Tuesday, 9 February 2010

Department of Health and Children

Medical Cards

9:00 pm

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 229: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the background and rationale to the decision to centralise the medical card application service to the primary care reimbursement service; the connection of this centralisation to the budget 2009 decision to means test all persons applying for a medical card aged 70 years and over which is enshrined in the Health Act 2008; the preparation undertaken and consideration given to the initiative prior to the announcement to centralise on 24 December 2008; the effect of the centralisation on persons over 70 years; the success of the centralisation; if problems have been encountered to date in 2010; the extent to which the medical card application process has been improved to be more efficient and faster; the extent to which it has deteriorated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6167/10]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Following the change in medical card eligibility for persons aged 70 and over in the Health Act 2008, the Health Service Executive (HSE) through its Service Plan for 2009, advised the Department of its decision to centralise the processing of all medical card and GP visit card applications and renewals to the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) in Dublin. The HSE has indicated that this decision was taken in the context of the Executive's requirements to make efficiencies in business practices that could realise savings in a very challenging economic environment and provide a modern service to the public within sustainable levels of expenditure.

I fully support the HSE's decision to centralise the processing of all medical card applications and reviews. I wrote to all Oireachtas members on 19th January 2010 outlining a range of measures being employed by the Executive to address issues arising from this initiative and I also referred to the various enhancements that this process will facilitate upon completion.

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