Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

452. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated saving if the full economic cost for the use of beds in public and voluntary hospitals for the purposes of private medical practice were paid for by private insurance operators. [30190/18]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

453. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated savings if all private patients in public hospitals were charged in full for services provided rather than being charged a maintenance or per diem charge. [30191/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 452 and 453 together.

The information requested is not currently available. The cost of all inpatient and daycase activity is calculated as part of the Activity Based Funding (ABF) system for acute hospitals. However, the resulting ABF price only applies to public patients because certain costs which would be relevant to private patients are funded through the block grant to these hospitals. A new methodology and detailed costing study would therefore be required in order to accurately calculate the full economic cost of private activity. This matter will be considered as part of the further roll-out of the ABF funding model.