Written answers

Wednesday, 30 April 2014

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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852. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide clarification regarding hospitals charging the VHI for hospital bed use despite the fact that a significant number of patients never actually obtain the use of a bed but are subjected to the use of a hospital trolley alone for the duration of their treatment and stay at the hospital; if any methodology for billing purposes exist which takes note of the number of patients who have had to receive treatment on trolleys without admission to a ward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19290/14]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Section 55 of the Health Act 1970, as amended, provides the framework for charging private in-patients in public hospitals. Section 13 of the 2013 Health (Amendment) Act introduced an amendment to Section 55 of the Health Act 1970. That section, which came into operation on 1 January 2014, provides that the HSE may provide private in-patient services to persons who are not entitled to, or who do not have or have waived eligibility to public in-patient services.

Section 55(1)(b) states that the "Health Service Executive shall make a charge in respect of any such in-patient services which are provided (i) in a hospital specified in the Fifth Schedule, or (ii) in a hospital specified in the Sixth Schedule, in accordance with the table of charges specified in the Fourth Schedule which relate to the hospital concerned."

Therefore, the charges applicable depend on the hospital treating the patient and on whether a person is accommodated in a single or multiple occupancy room or on a day case basis. Billing by individual hospitals is processed in accordance with the above arrangements. The application of a charge by a hospital for in-patient services is obligatory under the legislation. The charge is legally required for all private in-patient services provided in accordance with Section 55 of the Health Act.

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