Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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995. To ask the Minister for Health the reasons persons with private health insurance are now charged for using emergency departments in public hospitals; the reason for this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14085/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Emergency department (ED) services provided in a public hospital are classified as out-patient services. The current statutory charge for ED attendance is €100 under the Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations 2013, which applies to out-patient services provided at any of the following locations: an emergency department; an accident and emergency department; a casualty department; a minor injury unit; an urgent care centre; a local injury unit or any other facility providing similar services. This charge is subject to a number of exemptions under Article 3 of the Regulations including exemptions for medical card holders and those who have a letter of referral from a registered medical practitioner.

Public and private in-patient charges only apply from the day of admittance as an in-patient. Only a hospital doctor who has the right to, can admit a person as an in-patient. ED hospital doctors do not have admitting rights in public hospitals.

Once a person is admitted to hospital, they can opt to be treated as a public or private patient. Since the introduction of the Health (Amendment) Act 2013, all private patients who have waived their eligibility to public health care are now subject to the private in-patient charge. My Department is currently reviewing the operation of the Act on my request.