Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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393. To ask the Minister for Health if there are plans to remove GP fees for completing and signing medical card application forms. [33265/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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GPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS contract with the HSE for the provision of GP services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders.

Eligibility for a medical card is primarily based on a financial assessment which is conducted by the HSE in accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The HSE assesses each medical card application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a card. It is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances. Applicants not eligible for a medical card are then assessed for eligibility for a GP visit card.

Medical card applications can be completed and submitted online, or downloaded for printing and subsequently submitted by email or post. Part of the paper based application form is to be completed by the intended GP, confirming they are accepting the applicant as a GMS patient. While there is no specific provision regarding the handling of medical card application forms within the GMS contract, I am concerned that if some GPs are charging applicants for completing the form it would constitute an in appropriate barrier to accessing services. I have instructed the relevant officials in my Department to raise this matter with the HSE with a view to assessing how widespread this practice is and whether it is permitted under current contractual arrangements.

It is worth noting that when applying for a medical card online, the applicant inputs the details of their GP of choice listed on the HSE website. The HSE subsequently contact the GP concerned to ask them to accept the applicant to their GMS panel.