asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the widespread disquiet caused by the recent revelations about wrongful charges by a hospital of a medical card holder, he will outline the rules and regulations for the free treatment of all medical card holders in all hospitals and homes for the aged; the circumstances in which it is permitted to make a charge by way of bill or by deduction from pensions in all hospitals and homes for the aged; the way in which the amount charged or deducted is calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Medical Card Holders.
214.
Full eligibility for health services free of all charges is conferred by section 45 of the Health Act, 1970 and for administrative purposes is usually recognised by the grant of a medical card.
Charges could arise where a person has been in receipt of in-patient services for thirty days or for periods aggregating in total thirty days within the previous twelve months provided that person does not have full eligibility and has no dependants. The relevant regulations are the Health (Charges for In-Patient Services) Regulations, 1976 as amended by the Health (Charges for In-Patient Services) (Amendment) Regulations, 1987.
Persons who are in receipt of institutional assistance in long-stay homes may be required to contribute towards the cost of their maintenance from the day of their admission under the Institutional Assistance Regulations, 1954 as amended by the Institutional Assistance Regulations, 1965. Persons with full eligibility are also liable to make this contribution.
In deciding the amount to be contributed in any particular case health boards have full regard to the persons' circumstances.
Allowance is made for any commitments the person may have e.g. rent, mortgage, insurance premiums, hire purchase payments etc., and a reasonable amount is left to the person to meet personal needs.