Written Answers. - Hospital Services.
Liam Aylward
Question:
188
Mr. Aylward
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
if he will review the guidelines governing hospital charges to include persons who are holders of a long-term illness card and allow them free hospitalisation in line with holders of medical cards, particularly where they must attend the hospital on a regular basis.
[13057/98]
I do not propose to change the basis of entitlement to health services in Ireland to provide free hospital services to persons who are holders of a long-term illness card.
Entitlement to health services in Ireland is primarily based on means and there are two categories of eligibility. Persons in category 1 are medical card holders and they are entitled to a full range of public health services free of charge. Persons in category 2, non-medical card holders, have limited eligibility for health services, including an entitlement to public hospital and public consultant treatment subject only to modest statutory charges and out-patient services free of charge.
Under the Health (In-Patient Charges) Regulations, 1987, as amended by the Health (In-Patient Charges) (Amendment) Regulations, 1997, a person is liable for a statutory charge, unless otherwise exempt, in respect of in-patient public hospital services. This charge is currently set at £25 per night, subject to a maximum of £250 in any 12 month period. Persons who attend the accident and emergency department directly without having a referral note from their GP are liable for a charge of £20 which applies only to the first visit of any episode of care.
Public hospital statutory charges are based on the principle that those who can afford to do so are required to make a contribution towards the cost of providing hospital services. There are a number of exemptions to the charges, including medical card holders, women receiving maternity services, children up to six weeks of age, children receiving treatment for mental handicap, mental illness, phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, haemophilia or cerebral palsy, children referred from child health clinics and school health examinations and persons receiving services in respect of prescribed infectious diseases. Furthermore, the charge may be waived in respect of an individual if, in the opinion of the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board, payment would cause undue hardship.
