Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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117. To ask the Minister for Health the basis for the charges accruing to medical card holders and non-medical card holders under the Health (Amendment) Act 2005 since 1 July 2014 and which relate to costs incurred after the period of a 30 day inpatient stay in a hospital; the categories of those liable for such charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44413/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Charges for long-stay in-patient services in specified settings, including hospitals, have been in place since 15 July 2005 and no changes were introduced with effect from 1 July 2014. Hospital in-patients with full eligibility are not subject to payment of any in-patient charges while in receipt of acute care. Long-stay charges only apply in a hospital context to in-patients, with full or limited liability, who are not in acute care.

The rates were last amended in July 2011 and apply to two different classes of charges, in respect of the maintenance element of the in-patient services provided:

- Class 1 - charges for those receiving in-patient services on premises where 24 hour nursing care is provided are based on income, subject to a current maximum of €175 per week for a person whose income is €208 or any greater amount; and

- Class 2 - charges for those receiving in-patient services on premises where 24 hour nursing care is not provided are based on income, subject to a current maximum of €130 per week for a person whose income is €194 or any greater amount.

A 30-day threshold of service provision within the immediately preceding 12-month period applies, prior to the imposition of charges. The charges are structured to ensure that those paying them retain a reasonable minimum income for personal use (at least €33 per week for those paying Class 1 rates and at least €64 per week for those paying Class 2 rates). In addition, the HSE may reduce or waive a charge imposed on a person in order to avoid undue financial hardship to that person (including having regard to whether or not the person has dependants).