Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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208. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1755 of 18 April 2023, if he will outline any progress around preventing medical card holders being charged for blood tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30055/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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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. The HSE has advised GPs that where a blood test forms part of the investigation or necessary treatment of a patient’s symptoms or conditions, this should be free of charge for patients who hold a medical card or GP visit card.

It is still intended to raise the issue of GMS GPs charging medical card or GP visit card holders for routine phlebotomy again with the relevant GP representative body at an appropriate time. In the meantime, the position remains that where 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 who will investigate the complaint with the GP concerned and, where appropriate, arrange for a refund of charges incorrectly applied.