Nursing Homes Support Scheme Oversight

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 31 January 2013

Thursday, 31 January 2013

Questions (227)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

227. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for increases in charges under the fair care scheme notified to his Department; the basis for such increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5043/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The National Treatment Purchase Fund Board was designated under Section 40 of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009 as the body authorised to enter into arrangements on the price for long-term residential care services with private and voluntary nursing homes that wish to be "approved nursing homes" for the purposes of the Scheme. The negotiation process is necessary due to the commitment by the State to meet the full balance between the negotiated price and each person's contribution. The cost of long term residential care in public nursing homes is determined by the HSE.

The National Treatment Purchase Fund Board have advised that in the period 1st February 2012 to 31st January 2013 the following activity occurred in relation to prices for long term residential care in private and voluntary nursing homes: Number of Private Nursing Homes that obtained NTPF agreement to increase price - 6; Number of Private Nursing Homes that agreed with NTPF to reduce price - 42.

In addition, long term price agreements (ranging from 2 to 5 years) were contracted in 2010 shortly after the introduction of the Scheme in 2009. This approach was taken to ensure greater long term price stability of the Scheme and also represented value for the tax payer. Some of these longer term contracts are index linked and the application of inflation clauses applied to a total of 140 nursing homes during the year ended 31st January 2013. Each nursing home's pricing arrangements are, in any event, assessed by NTPF on an individual nursing home basis as current contracts expire and fall due for renewal and renegotiation. At the 31st January 2013 a total of 426 private nursing homes had pricing contracts with NTPF for the provision of long term residential care.