Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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885. To ask the Minister for Health if a patient is exempt from hospital bills if they have been admitted into hospital due to Covid-19-related issues. [14212/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all persons ordinarily resident in the State are eligible, subject to certain charges, for public in-patient hospital services including consultant services.All persons, 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 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.

The Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Regulations 2020 were amended to include Covid-19 as an infectious disease, which in turn exempted individuals with Covid-19 from public in-patient charges under the Health Act 1970 (as amended).

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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886. To ask the Minister for Health the reason that a person (details supplied) was issued a hospital bill after been admitted into Letterkenny University Hospital due to Covid-19-related health issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14213/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.