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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 4

Written Answers. - Medical Cards.

Noel Ahern

Question:

206 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health the reason medical cards are issued for different periods of time; if his Department issues any guidelines in this regard; if his attention has been drawn to the varying policies being adapted in this regard; if the cost of administering the medical card system varies much from one health board to another; and the statistics, if any, available in respect of the percentage of cards issued by the Eastern Health Board for different periods. [15700/96]

Limerick-East): Under the Health Act, 1970, determination of medical card eligibility is the responsibility of the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board. Medical cards are issued to persons who, in the opinion of the chief executive officer, are unable, without undue hardship to provide general practitioner medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants. Income guidelines are available to assist chief executive officers in the determination of a persons's eligibility and these guidelines are revised annually in line with the Consumer Price Index.

Assessment procedures are also a matter for the chief executive officers of the health boards. Medical cards are usually granted to persons for a limited period as a person's entitlement may change. In some instances medical cards may be given to persons, such as pensioners, for longer periods as their circumstances are unlikely to change. Medical card holders whose circumstances change are obliged to inform their local health board.

The chief executive officers have agreed on a number of standardised procedures to ensure uniformity and consistency when medical card applications are being considered. A review group on medical card entitlement established by the chief executive officers is at present examining the effectiveness and efficiency of the arrangements for granting and renewal of medical cards. In particular the review group is considering the manner in which medical card eligibility is reviewed. It is expected that the group will bring forward proposals shortly to streamline the arrangements for granting and reviewing medical card eligibility.
I will arrange for my Department to write directly to the Deputy concerning the cost of administering the medical card scheme and the percentage of cards issued by the Eastern Health Board for different periods.
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