Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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373. To ask the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with the practice of general practitioners charging medical card holders for blood tests, routine and otherwise, with some charges as high as €40; if the HSE will be requested to review the practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27968/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Persons who are eligible for GP care without charge under the Health Act 1970 are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services. There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition and the HSE has advised GPs accordingly.  

I am aware that, nonetheless, some GPs are charging GMS patients for phlebotomy services in some circumstances. The GP chronic disease management programme which is being phased in from this year will involve the ongoing monitoring of patients’ condition and any blood tests required in this context will be covered by the fees payable for this care. 

However, it remains a matter of concern to me that a GMS and GP visit card patient might be charged for blood tests which are clinically necessary and I have asked my officials to discuss with the HSE what further solutions to this issue may be possible.  If a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes he or she has been incorrectly charged for routine phlebotomy services by his or her GP, then that patient should report the matter to their HSE Local Health Office.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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374. To ask the Minister for Health the cost of carrying out a blood test including all associated costs per test. [27969/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Under the GMS scheme patients who hold a medical card or GP visit card are eligible to have blood tests taken by their GP without charge. Patients who attend a GP on a private basis may be charged a fee by the GP for a blood test, and the rate may vary between GPs.

Regarding the actual cost of carrying out blood tests, as there are a number of different types of blood tests it is not possible to answer this question without knowing the type of tests being referred to. Officials in my Department were unable to clarify the nature of the blood tests concerned with the Deputy; on receipt of this information I will be happy for my Department to provide a further answer to this question.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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375. To ask the Minister for Health the process in which medical card holders charged for blood tests by their general practitioner can apply to the HSE for reimbursement; the length of time this process takes for persons; the number of applications received for reimbursement in 2017, 2018 and 2019; if he is satisfied with the current process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27970/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Persons who are eligible for GP care without charge under the Health Act 1970 are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services. There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition and the HSE has advised GPs accordingly.  

I am aware that, nonetheless, some GPs are charging GMS patients for phlebotomy services in some circumstances and I have asked my officials to discuss with the HSE what further solutions to this issue may be possible.

If a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes he or she has been incorrectly charged for routine phlebotomy services by his or her GP, then that patient should report the matter to their HSE Local Health Office. The local management, upon being notified of potential inappropriate charging of GMS patients, carry out an investigation into each complaint and will, where appropriate, arrange for a refund of charges incorrectly applied by the GP.

Regarding the number of reimbursement applications and the length of time that process takes, as these are service related matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly on these matters, as soon as possible.