Vol. 451 No. 6
76 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Voluntary Health Insurance Board refuses to provide cover for the facilities of a doctor (details supplied) in Cork; if he will have arrangements made to have the matter investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7114/95]
Limerick East): A decision by the Voluntry Health Insurance Boards whether to provide cover in respect of a service provider is a matter for the board. It must operate as a commercial insurer particularly in the context of the Single Market which has opened the market here to competition and, since other companies providing medical insurance have such flexibility, it would be inequitable not to allow VHI the same freedom. Draft regulations, pursuant to the Health Insurance Act, 1994, have been issued to all relevant interests and those regulations provide insurers with the flexibility to decide on the hospitals and services which they will cover.
