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Medical Cards.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2005

Tuesday, 8 February 2005

Questions (196, 197)

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

202 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when it is proposed to introduce legislation in order that a directive can be issued to the Health Service Executive with regard to doctor visit cards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3541/05]

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Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

217 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will clarify her statement of 18 November 2004 on the publication of the health Estimate that the doctor visit cards would allow persons to access through their general practitioner a range of medical services in the public hospital system; the services she is referring to; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3727/05]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 202 and 217 together.

My Department is at present considering the nature of the legislative changes required to enable effect to be given to the decision to introduce doctor visit medical cards. Legislation in this regard will be introduced as soon as possible.

The new doctor visit card will cover visits to general practitioners who hold General Medical Services contracts with the Health Service Executive to treat GMS patients, and to whom these patients have been, or have expressed a wish to be, assigned under the General Medical Services medical card scheme.

As I have stated previously, I wanted to use resources to benefit as many people on lower incomes as possible. Parents on low incomes should not have to worry about the cost of bringing their child to a doctor. People will now be able to get the advice and reassurance they need from their GP, and in many cases, no additional costs will arise. Persons who hold doctor visit cards will be entitled to avail of drugs and medicines under the drugs payment scheme which provides that no person or family unit must pay in excess of €85 per month in respect of a range of approved prescribed drugs and medicines.

The new card is intended to confer entitlement to free GP visits for certain people with otherwise limited eligibility. The services in respect of the supply of medicines and a range of services provided free of charge under the GMS medical card scheme in the community, such as pharmacy, dental, ophthalmic and aural will not be available to those who hold doctor visit cards.

All those ordinarily resident in the State have eligibility for treatment in a public hospital subject, in the case of those with limited eligibility, to the statutory inpatient and outpatient charge. In relation to the outpatient charge for attendance at accident and emergency and casualty departments, the charge will apply except in circumstances where the person has been referred by a medical practitioner or where the patient's attendance results in admission as an inpatient.

There are a number of exemptions to the statutory charges, including medical card holders with full eligibility, women receiving services in respect of motherhood, children up to the age of six weeks and children referred for treatment from child health clinics and school health examinations. Also exempt from these charges are children receiving treatment for a number of prescribed diseases; and holders of a Health (Amendment) Act card. Under the Out-patient (Amendment) Regulations 2003, persons receiving services for the diagnosis or treatment of infectious diseases prescribed under Part IV of the Public Health Act 1947 are exempt, as are members of the Defence Forces personnel and their dependants. Those holding a doctor visit card will not be exempt from the statutory charges incurred unless they are covered by one of the exemptions specified above.

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