Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 465: To ask the Minister for Health if he will request the Health Service Executive to introduce a more concise and user-friendly medical card renewal form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20694/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has centralised the processing of all new applications and renewals of medical cards at the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) in Finglas, Dublin with effect from 1st July 2011.

As part of the centralisation project the HSE has committed to a review of all forms involved in the medical card process to make them as concise and user friendly as possible.

Two major initiatives have been introduced by the Health Service Executive to simplify the medical card application and renewal process. The first is a new streamlined user-friendly medical card review processed for the over 70's which ensures that where a person's circumstances have not changed since their last review/application, they simply certify this and return a single sheet review form to central office. Where their circumstances have changed to the extent that they may no longer be eligible for a medical card, their case is reviewed in the normal way.

The second initiative was the recent introduction of an online facility, www.medicalcard.ie which enables people anywhere in the country to renew a medical card online. Thousands of applicants are now submitted online every month. Applying online also gives applicants access to up to date information on the progress of their medical card renewal or application.