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Medical Card Applications

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 July 2013

Thursday, 18 July 2013

Questions (724, 725)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

724. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if general practitioners are allowed to decide the medical status of a person when applying for a medical card; if the decision of the GP is final; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36563/13]

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Catherine Murphy

Question:

725. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the status of the general practitioner medical reports to the Health Service Executive in respect of the medical status of an applicant when applying for a medical card is final; if this will then facilitate the removal of the requirement for applicants to provide second and third medical reports for desk assessment within the medical card department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36565/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 724 and 725 together.

Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, the assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the means, including the income and expenditure, of the applicant and his or her partner and dependants. An application for a medical card must be signed off by a GP who may provide information on the applicant's medical status.

Where an applicant is over the income threshold applicable to them to qualify for a medical card their application is considered on discretionary grounds. In order for discretionary medical circumstances to be taken into consideration, a medical report is required. Where an applicant has indicated on their application that there are discretionary medical circumstances present, and where no medical report has been provided, PCRS will issue a medical report to that applicant for completion and return.

In certain circumstances, where it is considered necessary to make a final assessment of an application for medical card/GP Visit Card eligibility, PCRS may request further detail in the form of an additional medical report.

If, at any time after a decision on their application is reached, an individual feels there has been a change in their circumstances material to their medical card eligibility, that person may submit to PCRS a new medical card application complete with all relevant supporting documentation, including an up-to-date medical report where appropriate. A new assessment of their eligibility will then be undertaken on the basis of the information provided.

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