Bernard Allen
Question:301 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health the number of long stay patients in each health board area who have been issued with medical cards.
Written Answers. - Medical Card Holders.
Bernard Allen
Question:302 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if medical card holders are liable for hospital charges; and if he will outline his views on the situation where the Southern Health Board are demanding hospital charges from medical card holders.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 302 together. A breakdown of long-stay patients by eligibility status is not available.
Medical card holders who are in receipt of hospital in-patient services as public patients are not normally liable for hospital charges.
Persons in receipt of in-patient services for at least 30 days within a 12-month period may be liable for charges under the Health (Charges for In-Patient Services) Regulations, 1976 as amended by the Health (Charges for In-Patient Services) Regulations, 1987. While these charges do not apply to persons with full eligibility, a person categorised as such while living at home may in certain circumstances be regarded as outside that category while maintained in an institution.