Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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410. To ask the Minister for Health the assets that are not taken into account when a person is applying for a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49111/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.

If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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411. To ask the Minister for Health the additional flexibility that will be facilitated when determining a person's means and taking into account the burden of an illness under his proposed changes to the medical card application procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49112/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware of the recent publication of the reports of the Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility and the external review of the Medical Card Process.

In the light of the conclusions of the two reports, a range of actions are being, or will be, put into effect immediately or in the short-term by the HSE. One such action is the HSE's putting arrangements in place for a more sensible processing of medical card applications involving significant medical conditions. These ensure greater interaction between the central office regarding the assessment of a person’s eligibility and the local health office regarding the person’s medical condition and the services that they may require. Another action to be progressed in the short term is the development of a single, integrated process for people to apply for a medical card, a GP visit card, the Long-Term Illness scheme and the Drugs Payment Scheme. In addition, a clinical advisory group will shortly be established by the HSE 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. This guidance will be drawn up by this group over the coming months.