Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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199. To ask the Minister for Health his views on providing a general practitioner card to spina bifida patients regardless of household income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8409/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), the assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the person's overall financial situation, including the means and expenditure of the applicant and his or her partner. As the Deputy will be aware, there is no legal basis for the HSE to award a medical card/GP visit card to persons with medical conditions, including spina bifida, on the basis of their medical condition alone, irrespective of their income/means.

If a person applies for a GP Visit Card, he /she will firstly be assessed for eligibility for a medical card. If income is over the relevant limit, the deciding officer will consider whether it would cause undue hardship if a medical card is refused. If a person does not qualify for a medical card, he/she is then assessed for a GP Visit Card. If income is over the relevant limit, the deciding officer will consider whether it would be ‘unduly burdensome’ for the applicant to pay for GP Services if he/she does not have a GP Visit Card. There are no proposals to introduce any legislative changes to the Health Act 1970, as amended, with regards to defining eligibility for services on the basis of medical conditions.