Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 283: To ask the Minister for Health the charges set by him in respect of inpatient and outpatient hospital care and for visiting an accident and emergency department; if these charges have changed during the course of 2011; if these charges will change in 2012; the revenue accruing from such charges in 2011; the anticipated income in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40244/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The current statutory public in-patient charge is €75 per day subject to a maximum of €750 in any period of 12 consecutive months. This charge is payable by all public patients subject to exemptions specified in regulation, which include medical card holders, amongst others. There was no increase in the public in-patient charges in 2011 and there are no plans to increase these charges for 2012.

The private/semi-private accommodation charges for private in-patients in public hospitals for 2011 are set out as follows. I will shortly announce increases for 2012.

These charges are in addition to a statutory in-patient charge for private patients in public hospitals of €75 in respect of each day during which a person is maintained, subject to the maximum payment in any 12 consecutive months of €750.

The current statutory out-patient charge ( i.e. the A&E charge) is €100 per visit. Again this charge is payable by all patients subject to specified exemptions which include medical card holders, those presenting with a letter of referral from a G.P. and those admitted directly through A&E, amongst others. Private patients are also liable to a charge for the use of MRI in public hospitals, currently set at a maximum of €400. There are no plans to change these charges in 2012.

The expected income from in-patient, outpatient and accident and emergency charges in 2011 is estimated at €522 million. It is expected that 2012 income will be broadly in line with that of 2011.