Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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2234. To ask the Minister for Health if he has issued a direction to the HSE to ensure that if there are delays due to Covid-19 in registering new born babies on to medical cards that the cost of any treatments would be refunded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37081/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) National Medical Card Unit (NMCU) has responsibility for the processing of medical card applications. A key performance indicator within the HSE NMCU is the processing of Medical Card and GP Visit Card applications within 15 working days of receipt of a completed application. The HSE NMCU have confirmed that the processing of applications has not been delayed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, despite the unprecedented challenges and capacity constraints experienced by the HSE since March 2020. For example, prior to the onset of the recent cyber-attack on the HSE, 99.63% of all applications received by the NMCU were processed within a 15 working day turnaround.

Regarding reimbursement, eligibility for a medical card or GP visit card is granted on the date when a completed application has been assessed and the applicant is awarded eligibility for a card under the scheme guidelines. Expenditure incurred prior to being granted eligibility is not reimbursable.

However, in the specific circumstance relating to the awarding of a GP visit card for children under 6 years of age, it should be noted that in cases where an applicant does not yet hold a PPSN, it is still possible to apply for an under 6s GP Visit Card through the HSE NMCU online application portal. In such cases eligibility is issued for a 3-month period, after which a PPSN number will be required to complete the application process.