Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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393. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the primary care reimbursement service can ask a person with spina bifida to complete a review to ascertain if they are still eligible for a medical card; his views that this person's medical circumstances could have changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46035/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Under the Health Act, 1970, eligibility for a medical card is founded primarily on the undue financial hardship test and every application must be assessed on that basis. There is no automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons with specific illnesses, or with a disability.

As financial circumstances may alter, all medical card and GP visit card holders are subject to a periodic review of eligibility to determine continuing eligibility. Where an applicant indicates on their review application that medical evidence has been previously submitted relating to a life-long medical condition, and this has been confirmed by the HSE, the HSE will not request further medical evidence in this regard. The applicant will, however, be required to submit all other up-to-date information, e.g. financial, material to a review assessment.

Following on from the Keane Report and the recommendations of the Expert Panel, the HSE will shortly be establishing a clinical advisory group to develop guidance on assessing applications involving significant medical conditions so as to take account of the burden involved and the needs arising from the condition and to ensure that appropriate services are provided to people who need them.

Minister Varadkar and I have also asked the HSE to examine, with the Department of Health, the best way to meet the needs of people with significant medical conditions who need the support of the public health system, with regard to medical aids and appliances and who do not hold a medical card.