Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Health the amount owed in total by health insurers in hospitals here since 2009; and his views on the global figure and the amount that each hospital is owed on an individual basis; the steps he is taking to recoup these fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47624/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The amount of money outstanding in private insurance income at the 31st July 2012 is €216m, of which €125m is due to statutory hospitals and €91m to voluntary hospitals.

It is acknowledged that the public hospital system has unacceptably long delays in relation to income collection and a number of measures are being progressed in order to address this. The HSE is continuing a drive to reduce the time taken to submit claims to private health insurance companies. A key element in this drive includes the implementation of an electronic claims management system in its hospitals which has commenced with six hospitals already live. This system will address the deficiencies of the paper based process and will also ensure that standardised work practices are implemented across hospitals. In the meantime, the Department has agreed, in principle, a system of improved cash-flow and accelerated payment with private health insurers. This will provide a once-off cash flow benefit in 2012 in the order of €125m.