Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in Cork whose medical card is not due to expire until 2017 has been asked to fill out review form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17471/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive operates under the legislative framework of the Health Act of 1970, as subsequently amended. In the interest of probity, the HSE is obliged to ensure that a person’s eligibility is correctly recorded in line with the eligibility legislation and the national guidelines. The HSE aims to ensure that every person who is entitled to the medical card schemes is given the opportunity to avail of their entitlement. The HSE has produced national assessment guidelines to provide a clear framework to assist in the making of reasonable, consistent and equitable decisions when assessing an applicant for the General Medical Services scheme. These guidelines are publicly available and can be downloaded from the HSE's medical card website.

The standard procedure for the review of medical cards for persons aged 66 years or older is that their medical card will be reviewed every 4 years. For persons under the age of 66 years, the length of validity of a medical card is 3 years. Depending on the individual's circumstances, it may be issued for a shorter period. If an individual's circumstances change, he/she must inform the HSE, as he/she may no longer be eligible. In addition to the standard assessment and review processes, random audits of eligibility will also be undertaken by the HSE on an on-going basis. If selected for review under this process, the Medical Card holder will be informed and requested to submit up to date income details.

Any medical card holder undergoing a review to renew a medical card, who genuinely engages with the HSE in that review, will not have their entitlement withdrawn before the review is complete, regardless of the expiry date shown on their medical card. In cases where a decision is made not to grant a medical card, the applicant is informed of the decision and is notified of their right to appeal this decision. Contact details for the appeals office are provided to them. Where a person submits an appeal to a decision not to renew a medical card within 21 days of that decision, he/she retains the medical card or GP visit card until the appeal is decided.

The Health Service Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to Ms Farrell's review as soon as possible.