Written answers

Tuesday, 11 July 2017

Department of Health

General Practitioner Services Provision

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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459. To ask the Minister for Health the status of progress towards the roll-out of free general practitioners care for those between the ages of six and 11; if he is still committed to this policy; the position regarding the money allocated for this initiative in budget 2016; the use to which the money allocated for in 2016 and 2017 was put; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32702/17]

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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460. To ask the Minister for Health the cost of providing free GP care to all children between the ages of six and 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32703/17]

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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461. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing free GP care to all children between 12 and 17 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32704/17]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 459 to 461, inclusive, together.

The Programme for Government commits to extend in phases, and subject to negotiation with GPs, free GP care to all children under 18 years of age. Legislative changes will be required for any such extension of free GP care to further cohorts of the population. The timetable will be subject to the outcome of discussions with GP representatives on this and other contractual matters currently being discussed.

The Revised Estimates for 2016 included additional funding for Primary Care initiatives including GP contract developments. Funding of €13.5 million was held back by my Department for specific initiatives under this heading. Of this, just over €7.7 million was spent in 2016 on the introduction of the new Rural Practice Support Framework for GPs, revision of the list of Special Items of Services that can be provided by GPs to GMS patients and initiatives to enhance GP access to diagnostics. The balance of these held back monies was released to the HSE and used to fund deficits in various service areas on a once-off basis. This funding is however available in 2017.

The cost of GP visit and medical cards varies significantly with the age of the cardholder. The following table outlines the current indicative annual cost for medical card eligibility and GP visit card eligibility, by age group.

Indicative Annual Cost per Card
Age GroupGP Visit CardMedical Card
0 - 4 Yrs€243€392
5 – 15 Yrs€163€214
16 – 44 Yrs€149€595
45 – 64 Yrs€221€1,217
65 – 69 Yrs€250€1,602
Aged 70 and over€500€2,092

Note: Data is compiled by the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service, based on available information for the 6 month period to February 2017 and by extrapolation to full year costs.

The extension of free GP care to all children aged over 6 and under 18 years, not currently covered by medical or GP visit card, would encompass approximately a further 451,000 people. The estimated cost of extending free GP care to specific cohorts of the population will vary depending on the outcome of the current GP contract negotiations and any implications they may have for the future scope and content of the general practitioner service, and the relevant fees and payments to GPs. As with any negotiation-type process, and given the range and complexity of the issues to be discussed, the engagement may take some time.

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