Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 September 2008
269 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of full medical cards issued for the years 2004 to 2008 inclusive; if she will provide the findings in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31958/08]
View answerDetails of the numbers of medical card holders are provided to my Department each month by the Health Service Executive. The figures are provided on a net basis showing the balance after new cards have been issued and other cards, as appropriate, have been deleted from the Executive's database, e.g. following a review of a person's circumstances. The following table shows the number of persons with a medical card on the dates requested by the Deputy:
|
Year |
Number of Medical Card holders |
|
31st December 2004 |
1,145,083 |
|
31st December 2005 |
1,155,727 |
|
31st December 2006 |
1,221,695 |
|
31st December 2007 |
1,276,178 |
|
31st August 2008 |
1,324,477 |
270 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of general practitioner cards issued for the years 2005 to date in 2008; if she will provide the findings in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31959/08]
View answerDetails of the numbers of GP visit card holders are provided to my Department each month by the Health Service Executive. The figures are provided on a net basis showing the balance after new cards have been issued and other cards, as appropriate, have been deleted from the Executive's database, e.g. following a review of a person's circumstances. The table below shows the number of persons with a GP visit card on the dates requested by the Deputy:
|
Year |
Number of GP Visit Card holders |
|
31st December 2005 |
5,080 |
|
31st December 2006 |
51,760 |
|
31st December 2007 |
75,589 |
|
31st August 2008 |
82,198 |
271 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the details of the agreement regarding the fee per patient payable to medical practitioners in respect of medical card patients with a breakdown for each category of medical card holder. [31963/08]
View answerDoctors holding contracts under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme with the Health Service Executive (HSE) are remunerated on the basis of the composition of their patient panel and the annual capitation rates payable reflect the age, gender and location of the patient.
A detailed list of the current rates payable is set out in tabular form below:
|
Age |
Up to 3 Miles |
3-5 Miles |
5-7 Miles |
7-10 Miles |
Over 10 Miles |
|||||
|
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
|
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
|
up to 4 years |
83.53 |
81.57 |
87.76 |
85.83 |
94.01 |
92.11 |
100.19 |
98.30 |
107.85 |
105.94 |
|
5-15 |
50.12 |
50.64 |
51.87 |
52.39 |
54.45 |
55.03 |
56.95 |
57.49 |
60.09 |
60.58 |
|
16-44 |
62.89 |
100.38 |
65.17 |
102.65 |
68.54 |
106.00 |
71.84 |
108.76 |
75.89 |
113.38 |
|
45-64 |
121.74 |
133.38 |
127.20 |
138.85 |
135.26 |
146.89 |
143.20 |
154.87 |
153.09 |
164.70 |
|
65-69 |
128.04 |
142.39 |
143.22 |
157.59 |
165.77 |
180.12 |
187.89 |
202.26 |
215.42 |
229.81 |
|
70 and over |
139.59 |
154.38 |
155.22 |
170.06 |
178.52 |
193.33 |
201.37 |
216.20 |
229.79 |
244.64 |
A capitation rate of €640 per annum is paid to GPs for the provision of service under the GMS contract for each person who qualifies for a medical card for the first time on the basis of being aged 70 years and over in the community. In respect of medical card holders, aged 70 years and over, who are resident in a private nursing home (approved by the HSE) for any continuous period of five weeks, the GP is paid a capitation rate of €927 per annum per card holder.
