Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 May 2014
825. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding inadequate information being provided to the elderly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22740/14]
View answerI am aware that the HSE has a suite of correspondence for medical card/GP visit card applications and reviews.
I am advised that, having completed a full assessment of an application or review, a letter issues to the applicant advising of the decision thereon. If a review of an application is assessed as ineligible or eligible for a GP visit card only, the letter issued informing the applicant of this decision will include an explanation of how the application was assessed and the details of the means assessment calculated on the application.
Applicants will be advised that they can request a review of the HSE decision if they believe their financial or other circumstances have not been correctly assessed. They will also be requested to provide any additional relevant information or details of any change in circumstances since their original application. In addition, the letter will notify the applicant of the option to appeal the decision and the contact details of the Appeals Office.
Where applicants submit an application without any additional medical documentation and are refused, they will receive a letter giving a calculation of the guideline thresholds and where these have been exceeded. Also, at this stage, they are informed of the option to furnish further medical documentation to support their application. If furnished, the application will be again examined, reviewed by a Medical Officer, as appropriate and the outcome of the assessment advised by the HSE to the client.
I have asked the Health Service Executive to examine the particulars of this matter and to reply to the Deputy, as soon as possible, as to the nature of the correspondence that issued.
