Niall Blaney
Question:218 Mr. Blaney asked the Minister for Health and Children if a health board can put a cap on subvention payments for the elderly in nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10163/03]
Written Answers. - Health Board Services.
Niall Blaney
Question:219 Mr. Blaney asked the Minister for Health and Children if a health board can cap the number of people receiving subvention payments in nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10164/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 218 and 219 together.
The Nursing Homes (Subvention) Regulations 1993 are administered by the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority. A subvention may be paid towards the cost of a nursing home in cases where the older person has been deemed in need of nursing home care following a medical assessment in which the applicant is categorised, according to his or her level of medical dependency and a means test. There are currently three levels of dependency – medium, high and maximum – in respect of which maximum rates of €114.30, €152.40 and €190.50 apply respectively.
The second schedule of the Nursing Homes (Subvention) Regulations 1993 sets out the general rules for the assessment of means in respect of an application for a nursing home subvention. "Means" for the purposes of these regulations are the income and the imputed value of assets of a person in respect of whom a subvention is being sought and the income and imputed income of his or her spouse. Paragraph 2 of the second schedule provides that, in calculating the means of an applicant, a health board shall take all sources of income into account, including rental income. Means are assessed for this scheme to ensure that the available funding is directed at those older people who have the greatest need of financial assistance. Under section 6.1 of the Nursing Home Regulations 1993, where a person is deemed by a health board to be sufficiently dependent to require maintenance in a nursing home and is unable to pay any or part of the cost of maintenance in a nursing home, then that person qualifies for a subvention at the appropriate rate.
As the Deputy may be aware, sections 22.3 and 22.4 of the Nursing Home (Subvention) Regulations 1993 allow health boards the discretion to contract beds in private nursing homes and to pay more than the maximum rates of subvention in such cases. However, the application of these provisions is a matter for each health board in the context of meeting the requirements of the subvention scheme within the board's revenue allocation as notified annually in the letters of determination. This is in keeping with the provisions of the Health (Amendment)(No 3) Act, 1996.
Question No. 220 answered with Question No. 215.
Question No. 221 answered with Question No. 216.