Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 October 2013
185. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the reduction of payments to health professionals that has been made by his Department over the past year; his plans to reduce further payments made by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42788/13]
View answerA review was carried out earlier this year under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Act 2009 in relation to the operation, effectiveness and impact of the amounts and rates payable to certain health professionals under the relevant Regulations.
The professionals concerned were General Practitioners, Pharmacists, Dentists, Ophthalmologists, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians who hold contracts with the HSE, Smeartakers contracted under the CervicalCheck programme and Consultant Psychiatrists who hold contracts with the Mental Health Commission.
Having carefully considered the submissions made during the consultation process, the Minister for Health decided to make the following reductions:
- An overall reduction of 7.5% in fees and allowances payable to GPs under the GMS Scheme, Immunisation Schemes, HeartWatch and the Maternity & Infant Care Scheme.
- The elimination of the 20% retail mark-up to Community Pharmacists in respect of items dispensed under the Drug Payment Scheme, the Long Term Illness Scheme, the European Economic Area Scheme and the Health (Amendment) Act 1996 Scheme.
- A 3% reduction in fees paid to Consultant Ophthalmologists.
- A 3% reduction in fees paid to Consultant Psychiatrists who hold contracts with the Mental Health Commission.
The following Regulations have been prepared to give effect to the Minister’s decisions and these came into effect on 24th July 2013:
- S.I. 277/2013 - Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to General Practitioners) Regulations 2013;
- S.I. 278/2013 - Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to General Practitioners) (National Immunisation Programmes) Regulations 2013;
- S.I. 279/2013 - Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Community Pharmacy Contractors) Regulations 2013;
- S.I. 274/2013 - Health Professionals (Reduction in payments to Ophthalmologists, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians) Regulations 2013;
- S.I. 276/2013 - Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Consultant Psychiatrists) Regulations 2013.
Under the FEMPI legislation, the Minister for Health is required to carry out a review of the operation, effectiveness and impact of the amounts and rates fixed under the regulations each year. This will involve a full consultation with stakeholders in 2014.
