Vol. 551 No. 2
266 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will investigate a situation as reported in a publication (details supplied) on 22 February 2002, where, due to a mismatch in data held by health boards and the General Medical Services (Payments) Board on the number of people in the State with medical cards, that doctors are being refused payment for treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9880/02]
The Secretary General of my Department has written to all of the chief executives asking that a thorough investigation of data held by them in respect of medical cards take place as a matter of priority.
This together with the cross departmental working group on the client eligibility index which has health board and GMS (Payments) Board input will significantly progress any perceived deficit in information in respect of doctors and their eligible patients and the payments they are due as a result.
