Written Answers Nos. 223-231
223. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health when an appointment will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork who has been referred to South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital for orthopaedic treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9791/14]
View answerThe National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2013, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to this particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
224. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health with regard to Health Service Executive reviews of eligibility that are to be conducted in a risk-assessed manner in relation to approximately one million medical card holders during 2014, the number of reviews that took place in January 2014; the number of medical cards discontinued as a result of these reviews; the number of reviews where a persons income exceeded the weekly income amounts set out in the health service medical card national assessment guidelines but a card was retained on the basis of the exercise of discretion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9793/14]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However, I have asked the Health Service Executive to supply this information to me and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as possible.
225. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health his plans to alter the income limits for medical card applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9796/14]
View answerThere are no current plans to alter the income limits for medical cards.
226. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the reason a high level of authorisation requests for frequent eye examinations for medical card holders are being turned down in County Mayo; his views on whether subsequent referrals of some patients without request is breaching rules within the community optical services scheme which is underpinned by patient choice; his views on whether such a strategy is adding to Health Service Executive waiting lists and is contrary to the Government's policy of retaining patients in primary care for as long as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9802/14]
View answerCommunity Optometric Services are provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The HSE has therefore been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
227. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to include irritable bowel syndrome on the long-term illness scheme due to the significant medical costs to those who have this condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9807/14]
View answer268. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health the reason breast cancer is not included as one of the prescribed diseases for the purpose of the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9968/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 227 and 268 together.
There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Long Term Illness Scheme.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines.
In addition, people who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. In the assessment process, the Health Service Executive can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family. Those who are not eligible for a medical card may still be able to avail of a GP visit card, which covers the cost of general practice consultation.
228. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide update on the national substance misuse strategy, with specific reference to any deliberations on the introduction of a minimum price of alcohol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9808/14]
View answerThe Government has approved an extensive package of measures to deal with alcohol misuse to be incorporated in a Public Health (Alcohol) Bill. These measures are based on the recommendations contained in the Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy, 2012. The package of measures to be implemented will include provision for minimum unit pricing, regulation of the marketing and advertising of alcohol, regulation of sports sponsorship, structural separation of alcohol from other products in mixed trading outlets and labelling of alcohol products.
The other measures (eg for the HSE, professional bodies etc) set out in the Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy, were endorsed by Government and are to be progressed by the relevant departments and organisations. The HSE has responsibility for implementing a number of recommendations and this is reflected in the HSE Service Plan for 2014.
Work on developing a framework for the necessary Department of Health legislation is continuing. A health impact assessment, in conjunction with Northern Ireland, has been commissioned as part of the process of developing a legislative basis for minimum unit pricing. The assessment will study the impact of different minimum prices on a range of areas such as health, crime and likely economic impact. The study should be finalised by the end of Quarter 2 this year.
229. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when an application for the fair deal scheme will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9816/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
230. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health with regard to medical card renewals, if medical information must be provided each time in a situation where the person has a life-long condition which will never change; his view on the stress this places on such persons and their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9818/14]
View answerUnder the Health Act 1970, as amended, eligibility for a medical card or a GP visit card is determined primarily on the basis of an assessment of financial means. If an applicant’s means are above the financial thresholds, as outlined in the National Assessment Guidelines, the HSE routinely considers whether the refusal of eligibility will result in undue financial hardship for the applicant or any dependants. Eligibility may be granted, on a discretionary basis, if the applicant cannot arrange general practitioner, medical and surgical services, for themselves and their dependants, without undue financial hardship.
Medical card or GP visit card eligibility is not granted solely on the basis of a person’s medical condition (other than persons affected by the drug Thalidomide or persons affected by Symphysiotomy). Medical card applicants or their dependants who submit supporting medical reports with an application for a medical card and who do not qualify for a medical card on an assessment of means, have the management of their medical condition considered during the assessment process to determine if the refusal of eligibility would result in undue financial hardship for the applicant or any dependants.
Persons that have been granted a medical card under the ‘financial hardship’ provisions of the medical card scheme are required, when the subject of a review assessment, to submit all relevant and up-to-date details material to making a determination of continuing eligibility.
Where an applicant indicates on their review application that medical evidence has been previously submitted relating to a life-long medical condition, and this has been confirmed by the HSE, the HSE will not request further medical evidence in this regard. The applicant will, however, be required to submit all other information material to a review assessment.
231. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare the reason a GP visit card only granted two months previously has been withdrawn based on income subsequent to the lodgement of an appeal on medical grounds; if cognisance and due regard has been given to the fact that there has been no change of financial circumstances since their GP card was awarded; if he will review this case with a view to granting a full medical card in view of the severity of the applicant's medical circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9836/14]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
