Written answers

Thursday, 12 January 2012

5:00 pm

Photo of Kevin HumphreysKevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 228: To ask the Minister for Health the disciplinary procedures that are being taken against hospital consultants who did not sign off on health insurance claim forms in a timely manner, resulting in the loss of €76 million to the State; if he will consider pursuing the individual consultants for these losses where negligence occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1699/12]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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There is no explicit contractual requirement that medical consultants sign off on health insurance claim forms within an agreed timeframe. However, Consultant Contract 1997 provides that a consultant will co-operate with the employing authority in the collection of maintenance fees, while Consultant Contract 2008 provides that consultants are to work within the framework of the hospital/agency's service plan and to ensure that functions are undertaken in a manner that minimises possible disruptions in service. Where there is a delay in finalisation of claim forms the charges due to public hospitals are not lost. Receipt, however, is delayed. This impacts negatively on the hospital's cash flow and financial position.

While the HSE and voluntary hospitals recoup considerable sums from private health insurance companies in respect of private and semi-private treatment services provided to their members, lengthy delays often occur between the discharge of patients and the receipt of payment from the companies. This has led to an unacceptably high level of debtor days with a significant amount in fees outstanding. Some hospitals are much more efficient at collecting this income than others. It is intended that more hospitals will achieve the income collection standard of the better performing hospitals, and, as a result, a target of €50 million in accelerated income has been set for 2012.

I have already indicated my intention to have health service management engage with the consultant representative bodies to achieve efficiencies, productivity increases and reform under the Public Service Agreement. The timely completion of private patient claim forms is among the issues which I wish to see addressed in this context.

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