Vol. 550 No. 2
300 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason an identification of the exact number of discretionary medical cards in the GMS has yet to take place; the reason general practitioners were paid a notional sum in 2001 based on a figure of 20,000 discretionary cards, while the real figure is believed to be nearer to 80,000; and if he will settle this issue with the general practitioners through the Irish Medical Organisation. [7803/02]
301 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason full payments from previous extensions of the medical card scheme to over 70s dating back to 1999, has not been implemented with the Irish Medical Organisation for general practitioners. [7804/02]
302 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a general practitioner workload review in relation to asylum seekers has not taken place. [7805/02]
303 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the payment of a ?127 registration fee in respect of asylum seekers, agreed in April 2001 with the Irish Medical Organisation and general practitioners, has not been paid in four health board areas. [7806/02]
304 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason payment of nursing and secretarial grants for part-time staff, in accordance with an agreement reached in July 2001 with the Irish Medical Organisation, has not been implemented. [7807/02]
305 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason his Department has unpaid capitation payments in relation to new over 70s GMS patients backdated to 1 July 2001. [7808/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 300 to 305, inclusive, together.
These matters relate to agreements with the Irish Medical Organisation in respect of the Government's decision to extend medical card eligibility to all persons aged 70 and over. The agreements reflected agreed changes in remuneration packages for doctors from March 1999 with the first of a three phased doubling of the income limit for persons in this age category. Subsequent adjustments occurred in March 2000 and March 2001 and on July 1, 2001 when eligibility was extended to all persons in this age group regardless of income.
Of the items involved there is agreement on some that full payment is due to the general practitioners involved but there are technical difficulties in agreeing the basis for the payments.
There is ongoing difficulty at health board level in determining the precise number of discretionary medical cards in the system and in implementing a mechanism to trigger the payments. The ERHA and the health boards have been asked to expedite this matter so that appropriate payments can be made as quickly as possible
A similar problem relates to asylum seekers in some health board areas. While this issue is being clarified an interim payment has been made to doctors of 50% of their claims for these patients. The method of payment for general practitioners in respect of the agreement on the phased doubling of the income limits is the subject of a difference of interpretation. The HSEA has offered to have this matter referred to an independent arbitrator for decision.
