Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Health if, in relation to the Government's plan ‘future health’ and its statement that social care services will not be covered by universal health insurance, this will mean people having to pay for care services which they are eligible to receive without charge at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57014/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Under Universal Health Insurance, everyone will be insured for a standard package of primary and acute hospital services, including acute mental health services. While primary and hospital care will be funded mainly via the UHI system, specialised and social care services, including long term care, will be funded by general taxation.

The future sustainability and model of delivery of social care services will have to be subjected to detailed policy analysis and consultation along the lines of the initiatives outlined in Future Health - A Strategic Framework for Reform of the Health Service 2012 – 2015.

Future Health commits to the development of a social and continuing care system that maximises independence and achieves value for the resources invested. The measures include a reform of the Nursing Home Support Scheme to allow many more people to continue living at home as they would wish. Consideration will also be given to the extension of the Nursing Home Support Scheme model to the disability and mental health sectors. Disability services will be reformed in line with the findings of the recent Value for Money and Policy Review of Disability Services. Future Health also reaffirms our support for the move from the traditional institutional based model of mental health care, towards a patient-centred, flexible community based service. Other important measures identified include the introduction of a standardised framework to commission services from both public and non-public providers; individualised budgeting to bring about a closer alignment between funding and the outcomes of individuals; and a robust regulatory regime to ensure quality and safety.