Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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162. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in issuing a generic medical card to persons living in temporary emergency accommodation, such as at a facility (details supplied). [52513/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Since the centralisation of the administration of the medical card scheme in July 2011, the National Medical Card Unit in the HSE does not provide "generic or house" medical cards to organisations or establishments. Residents in emergency accommodation who have applied for a medical card are assessed by the HSE under the current medical card guidelines. Under the guidelines, the HSE assesses whether a person is unable, without due hardship, to arrange general practitioner services for himself or herself and his or her family, having regard to his or her overall financial position and reasonable expenditure and every application must be assessed on that basis.

A person who is in receipt of a medical card must register with a General practitioner. However, if they move temporarily from their official postal address, and are resident in a place not ordinarily served by their medical card GP, they will be regarded as a "temporary resident" and can avail of medical services with any GP registered to provide GMS services. If the cardholder intends to relocate to a new area for longer than three months and/or a permanent basis, they must submit a change of doctor request to the HSE.