Written answers

Tuesday, 24 March 2015

Department of Health

General Medical Services Scheme

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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674. To ask the Minister for Health the charges for phlebotomy by general practitioners under the general medical scheme; if this will be covered by the new contracts for general practitioners; the status of charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11815/15]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Section 11 of the General Medical Services (GMS) General Practitioner (GP) Capitation Contract, which was introduced in 1989, provides that the medical practitioner shall provide for eligible persons, on behalf of the Health Service Executive, all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a GP and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which GPs cannot reasonably be expected to possess.

In circumstances where the taking of blood is necessary to either (a) assist in the process of diagnosing a patient or (b) monitor a diagnosed condition, the GP may not charge that patient if they are eligible for free GMS services under the Health Act, 1970, as amended.

Under paragraph 27 of the GMS contract a GP shall not demand or accept any payment or consideration whatsoever from a GMS patient in reward for services provided by him/her under this contract, or for travelling or for other expenses incurred by him/her or for the use of any premises; equipment or instruments in making the services available.

GPs are private contractors and issues relating to payment of fees outside the terms of the GMS contract are a matter of private contract between the clinician and the patient.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in February 2015 commits the Department of Health, the HSE and the IMO to substantive negotiations on a new comprehensive GP contract commencing no later than 31 March with a view to concluding within 12 months. A priority of these discussions will be the inclusion of chronic disease management for patients. The appropriate arrangements in relation to phlebotomy services will also be considered as part of these discussions.

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