Written Answers Nos. 145-162
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Written Answers Nos. 145-162
145. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if, in view of advances in the treatment and early detection of cancer, he will consider including cancer patients on the free general practitioner card for long-term illnesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13844/13]
View answerThe Government's Programme for Government committed it to major reforms of the manner in which health services are delivered. As part of the reform programme, Universal Primary Care is to be introduced on a phased basis during its term of office. Primary legislation is being prepared to give effect to this commitment. The wording of this legislation, which will allow the Minister for Health to make regulations to extend access to GP services without fees to persons with prescribed illnesses, is currently being drafted by the Office of the Attorney General and the Department. As the legislation is still being drafted, I am not in a position to give a definite date for its publication. Details of an implementation timeframe, illnesses to be covered etc and application details will be announced in due course.
149. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the reason the Irish Patient Association has had its core funding withdrawn by the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13839/13]
View answer499. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that funding to the Irish Patients Association is being cut from April onward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10967/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 499 together.
Funding decisions in relation to the Irish Patients Association are proper to the HSE, as appropriate to its holding of the Health Vote.
The HSE has met with Departmental officials to give a background to the reduction in funding for the Association and other voluntary agencies, brought about by the financial position in which the health service finds itself and due to a re-appraisal and targeting of priorities in the light of the Executive's Service Plan 2013. The Deputies should be aware that it would not be correct for the Department to become involved in governance and funding procedures proper to the HSE.
In the area of patient advocacy the HSE is establishing its Patient Safety Champions Network and this is what it wishes to support and target financially. It will also continue to fund another patient advocacy group engaged in direct advocacy work.
The HSE has been in discussions with the Association since 2006/2007, in relation to it becoming self-financing; there does not appear to have been progress in this direction. (The Department was also in similar discussions with the Association in 2003/2004). The Association receives some private funding from the pharmaceutical sector.
The CEO of the Irish Patients Association met with the Secretary General of my Department in January and was appraised of the HSE's position on funding for the Association. A further meeting between the Association and the HSE was suggested and this took place last Thursday, 14th March. The outcome of this meeting is that the decision by the HSE to cease funding the Irish Patients Association will not be reversed.
151. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if the review he initiated in his Department on the best way to compensate those women victims of the former consultant Michael Neary and who were excluded from the terms of the redress scheme established by the former Government on the grounds of age, has reported to him; the way he intends to proceed; how quickly he will act in view of the fact that the number of women involved continues to reduce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13779/13]
View answerA commitment was made in the Programme for Government to seek a mechanism to compensate those women who were excluded on age grounds alone from the Lourdes Hospital Redress Scheme. The Scheme of Redress approved by Government in 2007 was a non-statutory, ex-gratia scheme. Awards were determined by an independent Redress Board in 2007 and 2008.
My Department has been engaged in a review to identify the most appropriate mechanism to compensate these women. This review has included taking instructions and legal advice, including advice from the Office of the Attorney General, with a view to bringing proposals to Government for a decision. This process is ongoing, and it is my intention that it will be brought to a satisfactory, legally sound conclusion as quickly as possible.
160. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent, if any, to which health insurance premiums charged by the VHI or other private health insurers are affected by the fees charged for various procedures in both the public and private hospital sectors; if any study has been down in each case to ascertain whether either sector by virtue of the cost of procedures or actual hospital accommodation contribute to a greater or lesser degree to increase in health insurance premiums in each of the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14347/13]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, pricing decisions in relation to private health insurance products are a matter for individual insurers. However, I have consistently urged the VHI and all the private health insurers to do everything possible to keep down the cost of private health insurance and I am determined to address costs in this sector in the interest of consumers.
Given the VHI's very significant share of overall costs in the market, I will continue to focus strongly on the need for the VHI to address its costs and to address the base cost of procedures, including professional fees. Specifically, I have asked the VHI to focus on increasing the extent of procedure based payments, in addition to benchmarking to determine the underlying basis for the cost of specific procedures.
The VHI notes that the key factors influencing price increases generally include the increasing volume and cost of claims, an ageing membership, and ongoing medical innovations, which while welcome, have an impact on the cost of care. According to the VHI, approximately 70% of VHI Healthcare's claims are performed in private facilities, and the negotiated price for procedures in private hospitals is a "package" price, which includes the cost of surgery, drugs, pathology, and accommodation.
In terms of increased premiums which may arise from cost of procedures or hospital accommodation, it is a matter for each insurer to contain its own costs and to compete actively on the basis of price.
