I propose to take Questions Nos. 655 to 657, inclusive, together.
A target expenditure of €20.75 millin has been set for 2013 in respect of payments for medical certificates and reports for illness and disability related schemes. This represents a reduction of some €5 million on payments made in 2012. Payments to certifiers are made on a quarterly basis. Two quarterly payments have been made to date in 2013. Payment expenditure for Q1 2013 was €5,473,080 out of a profiled €5,500,000. Payment expenditure for Q2 was €5,305,650 out of a profiled €5,500,000. The Department is on target to achieve its budgeted expenditure in this area in 2013. Close monitoring of the expenditure will continue during the year.
The following table outlines the payments made to certifiers in respect of medical certificates and medical reports for 2012 and for 2011.
Table 1 – Payments to Certifiers 2011 and 2012
Year
|
Certs
|
Certs
Value
|
Reports
|
Reports
Value
|
Total Value
|
2012
|
2,521,300
|
€20,800,725
|
94,878
|
€4,216,378
|
€25,017,103
|
2011
|
3,420,597
|
€28,219,925
|
77,329
|
€3,436,501
|
€31,656,426
|
My Department is continually examining ways of reducing the number of certificates that are furnished under the illness benefit scheme, for example; submitting medical certificates for the sole purpose of obtaining credited contributions, also the frequency of certification for some conditions. The projected spend for 2013 is €20,750,000.
The breakdown of the amounts spent on medical certificates and medical reports in 2011 and 2012 is outlined in the following tables – it should be noted that, in some cases, certifier payments cover practices involving a number of doctors.
PAYMENTS TO CERTIFIERS FOR 2011;
The total amount paid to certifiers was €31,656,426.
Highest payment €100,940
Average payment
€10,859
Table 2 - Breakdown of Payments to Certifiers in 2011 by range
Breakdown
|
No.
|
Greater than €100,000
|
1
|
Between €70,000 to €79,999
|
1
|
Between €60,000 to €69,999
|
10
|
Between €50,000 to €59,999
|
27
|
Between €40,000 to €49,999
|
41
|
Between €30,000 to €39,999
|
88
|
Between €20,000 to €29,999
|
321
|
Between €10,000 to €19,999
|
743
|
Between €5,000 to €9,999
|
580
|
Between €1,000 to €4,999
|
496
|
Less than €1,000
|
607
|
For data protection reasons I regret I am not in a position to supply the names of the top 10 certifiers.
PAYMENTS TO CERTIFIERS FOR 2012;
The total amount paid to certifiers was €25,017,103
Highest payment was €101,749.78.Average payment for was € 8,653.44
Table 4 - Breakdown of Payments to Certifiers in 2012 by range
Breakdown
|
No.
|
Greater than €80,000
|
1
|
Between €70,000 to €79,999
|
0
|
Between €60,000 to €69,999
|
0
|
Between €50,000 to €59,999
|
7
|
Between €40,000 to €49,999
|
20
|
Between €30,000 to €39,999
|
53
|
Between €20,000 to €29,999
|
217
|
Between €10,000 to €19,999
|
719
|
Between €5,000 to €9,999
|
668
|
Between €1,000 to €4,999
|
558
|
Less than €1,000
|
648
|