Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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390. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 572 of 16 June 2020, the way in which the chronic disease management programme will be rolled out over the next three years to 2023; the categories of patients that will be added to those already commenced in the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12773/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In line with the terms of the 2019 GP Agreement, the Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Programme which commenced at the end of January 2020 is to be rolled out on a phased basis to adult GMS and GP visit card patients over a 4-year period, starting with those aged 75 years and over. The programme will be extended to eligible patients aged 65 – 74 years from 2021 and to those aged 45 – 64 years from 2022.

Patients with an existing diagnosis of one of the specified conditions (Type 2 Diabetes, Asthma, COPD, and Cardiovascular Disease), those who are assessed by their GP on an opportunistic case finding basis, as well as those identified as high risk, will benefit under the programme. 

The programme is expected to help over 400,000 patients to better manage their conditions through regular programmed contacts with their GP, resulting in the most effective use of healthcare resources and a decrease in reliance on acute hospital attendance. 

Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency and in line with clinical advice, temporary changes have been agreed between the HSE and the IMO to the operation of the CDM Programme.  These will allow for greater use of remote consultations and will increase the number of patients benefiting from the Programme in the current year.  The revised Programme will be a combination of teleconsultations and in-surgery visits at the GP’s discretion and dependent on patient clinical requirements. In addition, the Programme will be extended to include all medical card and GP visit card patients over the age of 70.