Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 671: To ask the Minister for Health the progress that has been made on the introduction of universal health insurance with equal access to care for all; the cost implication of such a switch; when the universal health insurance implementation group will publish a report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22238/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Government is embarking on a major reform programme for the health system. The aim of this reform is to deliver a single-tier health service that will deliver equal access to care based on need, not income.

While universal health insurance is the ultimate destination of this Government's reform programme, there are a number of important stepping stones along the way and each of these will play a critical role in improving our health service in advance of the introduction of universal health insurance.

A key immediate priority is the establishment of the Special Delivery Unit (SDU) which I announced on the 1st of June. The SDU's priorities will encompass reducing the waiting times for admission to Emergency Departments, reduction in in-patient and out-patient waiting times and improved access to diagnostics. I have appointed Dr Martin Connor, an international expert, to head up the SDU. His principal task will be to build up the SDU and to prepare proposals on how best it can be placed on a permanent footing within the next six months. The resources of the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) will be refocused to align with the work of the SDU, and crucially, will allow for a progressive improvement in the performance of the nation's hospitals.

A further fundamental element in the reform process involves significant strengthening of primary care services to deliver universal primary care with the removal of cost as a barrier to access for patients. This commitment will be achieved on a phased basis to allow for the recruitment of additional doctors, nurses and other primary care professionals. The implementation programme will be overseen by the Minister of State for Primary Care, assisted by a project team of officials from the Department and the HSE.

Reform of the funding system for hospital care is also necessary. This will involve the introduction of a more transparent and efficient "Money Follows the Patient" funding mechanism and the introduction of a purchaser / provider split, whereby hospitals will be established as independent, not for profit trusts. To achieve this a number of initiatives are already underway in 2011 including a patient level costing project which involves tracing resources actually used by individual patients from the time of entry and admission to hospital until time of discharge. The HSE has also implemented a prospective funding mechanism for selected elective orthopaedic procedures, at selected sites.

Other important initiatives which will prepare the system for universal health insurance include the establishment of a new risk equalisation scheme for the private health insurance market, and the financial restructuring and authorisation of the Voluntary Health Insurance Board. I commissioned a report in April on the opportunities for rebalancing risk in the private health insurance market. This report will be submitted to me by the end of July 2011. In addition, I have asked the Health Insurance Authority, as the regulator of the private health insurance market, to examine the issue of provider costs in the market. I am currently reviewing the HIA's proposals on how this issue might be addressed.

The Government is also committed to the publication of a White Paper on Financing Universal Health Insurance which will outline the estimated costs associated with the introduction of universal health insurance. However, it must be emphasised that the precise cost of universal health insurance will significantly depend on the success of reform measures, such as those outlined above, over the next 3-4 years.

The Government has recently given approval for an Implementation Group on Universal Health Insurance. I am currently finalising details of the Implementation Group and I will announce these in due course.