Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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179. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding medical card holders being charged for routine blood tests by either the general practitioner or the practice health nurse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39053/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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No person covered by the GMS Scheme should be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP or the Practice Nurse on behalf of their GP which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of a patient or to monitor a diagnosed condition.  For patients who have been charged in such circumstances, the HSE has put in place the following procedure:

The patient should forward his or her receipt for the charge to the HSE's local Primary Care Unit. The HSE will, in turn, inform the GP that where he/she inappropriately charges GMS patients for phlebotomy services, he/she is in breach of their contract. The HSE will also deduct an equivalent amount from its routine payments to the GP and will make a refund to the patient.