Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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685. To ask the Minister for Health if patients attending public and private hospitals for procedures have to take a Covid-19 test before they are admitted; if the patient will be expected to pay for the test (details supplied); and if so, the cost of the test. [23419/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, I do not have any responsibility for private hospitals, including in relation to charges that they apply.  The Department of Health does not have a role in the operational functions of private hospitals. 

More broadly in relation to testing, the HSE has developed guidance for the management of planned hospital admissions for non-COVID care which sets out advisory testing strategies for hospital patients. This guidance seeks to provide an advisory framework for mitigating risks associated with the delivery of non-COVID care while COVID-19 continues to be prevalent, and testing provides one of a number of measures that can be taken to reduce risk. 

As with any procedure or test, there will be a cost. I am not in a position to comment on what the actual cost may be in private hospitals, however, I understand that the costs arising from testing for COVID-19 in public hospitals is much lower than the charge quoted by the Deputy. As you will be aware, public patients are not charged for Covid tests in public hospitals.

In addition, I can confirm that the NTPF have advised my Department that no patient is liable for any charge from a private hospital for services arranged by the NTPF. It is also my understanding that the three main health insurers have reached agreement with the majority of private hospital facilities regarding charges for pre-admission COVID-19 testing, while continuing to work with those providers who they have not yet finalised agreements with. The aim is to ensure agreements are in place so that health insurance customers will not be charged for pre-admission COVID tests.