Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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166. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on medical cards (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38965/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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General Practitioners (GPs) are reimbursed by the HSE's Primary Care Reimbursement Service for a range of services they provide to medical card and GP visit card holders. Under the General Medical Services (GMS) contract GPs receive a range of fees and allowances in respect of each medical card and GP visit card patient on their GMS list, including an annual capitation payment in respect of each such patient, irrespective of how many times they visit their doctor during the year. The capitation payment is based on the age and gender of the patient and if the patient is aged 70 years or more, whether they are residing in the community or in residential care.

There are also a number of additional payments, e.g. in respect of out-of-hours consultations, temporary residents, special items of services (including suturing of cuts and lacerations, recognised vein treatment, etc.), practice support allowances and payments in respect of locum expenses. The current fee and allowance rates payable to GPs under the GMS scheme are set out in S.I. 277/2013 - Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to General Practitioners) Regulations 2013, which are available on line at: .

Medical indemnity insurance premia are refunded to contracted GPs based on the size of each GP's GMS panel. The HSE also pays into a superannuation scheme a sum equivalent to 10% of total capitation fees payable to contracted GPs. Payments to GPs under the National Immunisation Programmes are set out in S.I. 278/2013 - Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to General Practitioners) (National Immunisation Programmes) Regulations 2013, which are available on line at:

(schedule 2 - paragraphs 3, 4, 5 and 6 refer to payments to GPs for vaccinations under the GMS scheme).