David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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593. To ask the Minister for Health the payment and subvention rates for private nursing homes via the NTPF; the total amount spent in each of the past five years; and the range and average of rates across the State, by county. [21269/23]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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594. To ask the Minister for Health the manner by which a payment for a nursing home bed is calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21270/23]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009 sets out the basis for determining the cost of care in public centres under section 33 of the Act and maximum prices in private centres under section 40.

Cost of care in public centres

In March 2022 the HSE published its annual updated cost of providing care in its public residential care centres for older people.

The report gives detailed cost of care in public nursing homes. It shows that the cost of care has increased from €1,674 per week in 2021 to €1,698 per bed per week in 2022.

The 1.4% increase can be attributed to pay increases provided under the Lansdowne Road Agreement (funded separately to Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) funds allocated within the HSE Service Plan 2022). These costs do not relate to the amount a person will pay towards their care under the NHSS (Fair Deal) and it is important to note that regardless of whether a nursing home resident is in a private, voluntary or public nursing home their contribution to the cost of their own care remains the same.

The HSE has committed to publishing the required, detailed additional information in respect of publicly provided long-term residential care costs from 2022 onwards. These costs are determined by the HSE and the current cost per bed per week can be found on the HSE website: www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/fair-deal-scheme/financial-assessment/

Maximum prices in private nursing homes

The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has been designated by the Minister for Health pursuant to Section 40 of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009 as a body authorised to negotiate with proprietors of non-HSE registered nursing homes to reach agreement in relation to the maximum price(s) that can be charged for the provision of long-term residential care services to NHSS residents. Maximum prices for individual nursing homes are agreed with the NTPF following negotiations and based on the NTPF’s cost criteria.

The objective of the NTPF is to agree a price with each nursing home that offers value for money to the State having regard to the following criteria:a) the costs reasonably and prudently incurred by the home and evidence of value for money;b) the price(s) previously charged;c) the local market price; andd) budgetary constraints and the obligation of the State to use available resources in the most beneficial, effective and efficient manner to improve, promote and protect the health and welfare of the public. The NTPF carry out this role independently under the NHSS Act 2009. The NTPF has statutory independence, and there is no role for Ministers or the Department of Health in these negotiations.

The Department of Health published a review of the NTPF pricing system in June 2021. A steering group has been established to oversee the delivery of the recommendations; this group has met on a regular basis since publication of the review and continues to work on taking these recommendations forward.

The Government remains committed to ensuring that long-term residential care for older people continues to place residents’ care, wellbeing, standards and best interests at the centre of development.

The Department of Health continues to engage with the NTPF to examine ways in which funding can be used to provide support to nursing homes. In addition, the NTPF will shortly be seeking up-to-date financial and operational information from nursing homes to inform further analysis and considerations of measures to support the sector.