Written answers
Thursday, 21 January 2021
Department of Health
Hospital Charges
Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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426. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to lowering or waiving the inpatient charge of €80 per visit at a maximum of €800 per annum for those with long-term illnesses or treatment plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3304/21]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all persons ordinarily resident in the country are eligible, subject to certain charges, to public in-patient hospital services including consultant services. All persons, irrespective of illness or condition, accessing public in-patient (including day case) services in a public hospital are liable for the statutory in-patient daily charge of €80 up to a maximum of €800 in any period of 12 consecutive months, subject to a number of exemptions which include;
- medical card holders;
- people receiving treatment for prescribed infectious diseases - including Coronavirus (Covid-19);
- people who are subject to 'long-stay' charges;
- children referred for treatment from child health clinics and school board examinations;
- people who are eligible for hospital services because of EU Regulations;
- women receiving maternity services;
- children up to 6 weeks of age;
- people with hepatitis C who have a Health Amendment Card;
- people who are part of the Redress Scheme for Women Resident in Certain Institutions.
There are no plans to review the list of exemptions to this statutory in-patient charge.
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