Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 November 2012
239. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the saving that would be achieved from improving the occupancy of existing designated private beds in public hospitals to 70% and respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50708/12]
View answer240. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the saving that would be achieved from ending the practice of private patients of consultants being accommodated in public beds free of charge to private health insurance companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50709/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 240 together.
The principle underlying the 1991 eligibility framework is that patients opting for private consultant care should in general be accommodated in private or semi-private beds. However, an overriding principle is that emergency cases should be admitted to whatever bed is available, regardless of the public or private status of the patient or the bed.
Under the current legal framework, private in-patients who occupy public beds in public hospitals are not levied the daily maintenance charge, which ranges from €586 to €1,046. The Comptroller and Auditor General reported in 2010 that 45% of in-patients treated privately by their consultants were not charged for their maintenance costs because they were not occupying designated private beds in public hospitals. As part of Budget 2012, I announced my intention to bring forward legislation to provide for the charging of all private patients in public hospitals, irrespective of whether they occupied a public or a private bed. In doing so, I was conscious of the significant potential cost implications for private health insurers. In discussions with the insurers, I indicated that I was prepared to postpone implementation of the legislation until 2013 provided that the funds targeted in Budget 2012 for the current year could be raised through a system of improved cashflow. I am pleased to say that this process is nearing completion.
A range of factors will impact on any revenue estimates which will require further consideration. These factors could include the number of patients treated as over-night or day cases, type of accommodation provided, e.g. private or semi private; rates of private patient charges, the proportion of patients electing to be treated privately with private health insurance and, the proportion of patients presenting through A&E Departments that necessitate private accommodation.
Currently, my Department is considering a number of issues and implications relating to the proposed legislation in advance of bringing the matter to Government for decision.
