Liz O'Donnell
Question:111 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the amount each public hospital will receive from the VHI in 1995. [10997/95]
Written Answers. - VHI Public Hospital Funding.
Limerick East): I presume the Deputy is referring to the level of reimbursement for health board and public voluntary hospitals in respect of the treatment of VHI subscribers. For the last three years my Department has centrally negotiated with the VHI board an overall amount which was then allocated among the agencies.
In the context of the new single market in health insurance, as established in the Health Insurance Act, 1994, the Minister for Health is the regulatory authority for the non-prudential aspects of private medical insurance regulation. As such, it is not appropriate that my Department or I be involved in the making of commercial arrangements between health care providers and any one insurer.
From this year the Department will no longer be involved in the cash limit process. Agreement of reimbursement arrangements with the VHI will be a matter for the public health agencies concerned. Health boards and voluntary hospitals have agreed to participate in common negotiations with the VHI for the public system in respect of income for public hospitals in 1995. I understand that negotiations are at an advanced stage between the VHI and the public agencies.