Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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192. To ask the Minister for Health if the statutory inpatient charge in respect of a baby born prematurely who left the hospital before the date the baby was due to be born, in the amount of €800 will be cancelled (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22216/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The HSE makes in-patient services available to specific categories of persons under Section 52 of the Health Act 1970, as amended. In accordance with Section 53 of the Act, the charge in respect of in-patient services is set out in the Health (In-Patient Charges) Regulations 1987 (S.I. No. 116/1987). Regulation 4(1) provides the list of persons exempted from any charge made in respect of in-patient services provided under Section 52 of the Health Act.

One of the exemptions for the in-patient charge is "children up to the age of 6 weeks". All children after the age of 6 weeks are liable for in-patient charges unless they hold a medical card. My officials have forwarded the details of the above case to the HSE and brought their attention to the exemptions contained in S.I. 116/87.