Noel Rock
Question:609. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health if he will review the application and appeal forms for medical cards for elderly persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11880/17]
View answerMedical Card Administration
Questions (609)
Written answers
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services.
The 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 was issued to Oireachtas members.
Cross-Border Health Services Provision
Questions (610)
Noel Rock
Question:610. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health the position regarding eye cataract surgery for a person (details supplied) in Dublin; if this person would be entitled to the cross-Border health care scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11883/17]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The Directive on Patients' Rights in Cross Border Healthcare provides rules for the reimbursements to patients of the cost of receiving treatment abroad, where the patient would be entitled to such treatment in their home Member State, and supplements the rights that patients already have at EU level. Public patients may access the healthcare they require in either the public or private healthcare system of another Member State under the Cross-Border Directive (CBD). Access to healthcare abroad is based on patients following public patient pathways, i.e. they must demonstrate they have followed the equivalent public patient pathways that a patient would follow if accessing public healthcare in Ireland. It is important to note that reimbursement is confined to the costs of the care itself and that the rates of reimbursement cannot exceed the cost of provision of the care if it were provided in the Irish public health service. Referral for care under the CBD may be made by a GP, a hospital consultant and certain other HSE clinicians. The CBD excludes certain health services, e.g. services of public health, long-term care, organ transplantation, etc. All persons on public waiting lists, other than for such exempt health services, are eligible for the Scheme. Full details are available on the HSE website.
Hospitals Expenditure
Questions (611)
Pearse Doherty
Question:611. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the costs incurred to construct the purpose built maternity theatre at Letterkenny University Hospital's obstetrics unit; the number of occasions, per year, since its completion that the theatre has been used to perform surgeries, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11909/17]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Hospitals Data
Questions (612)
Pearse Doherty
Question:612. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of births which have taken place at the maternity unit at Letterkenny University Hospital for each of the years 2011 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11910/17]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Medicinal Products Reimbursement
Questions (613)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:613. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if will ensure access to cysteamine bitartrate, otherwise known as procysbi, to all patients here; the stage at which the process is and the efforts he and HSE are making to be proactive in order to expedite the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11911/17]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines in the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In reaching its decision, the HSE examines all the evidence which may be relevant, in its view, for the decision (including information submitted by the company) and will take into account such expert opinions and recommendations which it may have sought at its sole discretion, for example, from the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).
In considering an application, the HSE will also have regard to Part 1 and Part 3 of Schedule 3 of the 2013 Act. Part 3 requires the HSE to have regard to the following criteria.
1. The health needs of the public.
2. The cost-effectiveness of meeting health needs by supplying the item concerned rather than providing other health services.
3. The availability and suitability of items for supply or reimbursement.
4. The proposed costs, benefits and risks of the item or listed item relative to therapeutically similar items or listed items provided in other health service settings and the level of certainty in relation to the evidence of those costs, benefits and risks.
5. The potential or actual budget impact of the item or listed item.
6. The clinical need for the item or listed item.
7. The appropriate level of clinical supervision required in relation to the item to ensure patient safety.
8. The efficacy (performance in trial), effectiveness (performance in real situations) and added therapeutic benefit against existing standards of treatment (how much better it eats a condition than existing therapies).
9. The resources available to the HSE.
I am informed that the manufacturer has submitted an application to the HSE for reimbursement of Procysbi. As far back as December 2015, the manufacturer was requested to submit a dossier for a health technology assessment to assist in decision making. That dossier is awaited.
The NCPE recommendation in relation to the need for a full health technology assessment is published online at: http://www.ncpe.ie/drugs/cysteamine-bitartrate-procysbi/.
The NCPE reviewed the medicine again in January 2017, following some revisions by the manufacturer, and recommended that a HTA dossier would still be required to assist decision making.
The HSE informed the manufacturer of this ongoing requirement again on 31 January 2017.
Disability Support Services Provision
Questions (614)
John Brassil
Question:614. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will make funds available for a nursing package for a school (details supplied), in view of the admission of two children with life-limiting conditions this academic year 2016-17; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11913/17]
View answerWritten answers
The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage
Questions (615)
Seán Fleming
Question:615. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if the new medication FreeStyle Libre system from a company (details supplied) has been approved for persons with type 1 diabetes; if this will be included on the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11919/17]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy
Ambulance Service Data
Questions (616)
John Brassil
Question:616. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the number of phone calls to the ambulance service that were made from the Killarney district, in 2014, 2015 and 2016, by month, in tabular form; the number of these calls which where responded to by ambulances from outside Killarney; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11921/17]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Home Help Service Expenditure
Questions (617)
Fiona O'Loughlin
Question:617. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided in 2016 for the provision of home help hours in County Kildare; the amount of funding allocated to County Kildare in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11936/17]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
National Treatment Purchase Fund
Questions (618)
Fiona O'Loughlin
Question:618. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if additional funding will be made available to County Kildare for 2017 in view of the fact that funding is being exhausted in catering for existing clients while new clients are being left on long waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11937/17]
View answerWritten answers
Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018.
In December 2016, I granted approval to the NTPF to dedicate €5m to a daycase waiting list initiative with the aim of ensuring that no patient will be waiting more than 18 months for a daycase procedure by 30 June 2017. In excess of 2,000 daycases will be managed through this process and outsourcing of treatment will commence from March.
In addition to this Daycase Initiative, the NTPF has been working closely with my Department and the HSE to agree an approach to the remaining 2017 allocation. The HSE is currently developing a 2017 Waiting List Action Plans for Inpatient/Daycase procedures and Outpatient appointments to ensure that no patient is waiting more than 15 months by the end of October. The Inpatient/Day case Plan is being developed in conjunction with the NTPF's approach to the utilisation of its remaining €10m funding for patient treatment in 2017.
The HSE has now submitted Draft Waiting List Action Plans for Inpatient Daycases and Scoliosis. My Department is currently reviewing and evaluating these plans and engagement is ongoing with the HSE and the NTPF towards the finalisation of the former. The Outpatients Plan has been significantly progressed and I expect that it will be submitted by mid-March.
Nursing Homes Support Scheme Data
Questions (619)
Fiona O'Loughlin
Question:619. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons placed in nursing homes through the fair deal scheme in 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11938/17]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Organ Donation
Questions (620)
Fiona O'Loughlin
Question:620. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding and timeframe for the proposed organ transplant opt-out scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11939/17]
View answerWritten answers
Work on scoping the parameters of the legislation which will provide for an opt-out system of consent for organ donation is currently being undertaken in my Department. This work will be progressed as quickly as possible in the context of competing legislative priorities.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (621)
Martin Ferris
Question:621. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to have a cataract operation at Cork University Hospital. [11956/17]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to this particular query, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Treatment Abroad Scheme
Questions (622)
John Brassil
Question:622. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if he will sanction funding through the treatment abroad scheme for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11958/17]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The HSE operates the Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) for persons entitled to treatment in another EU/EEA Member State or Switzerland under EU Regulation (EC) No. 883/2004, as per the procedures set out in EU Regulations (EC) No. 987/2009, and in accordance with Department of Health Guidelines. Patients apply to the HSE TAS seeking access to public healthcare outside the State through model form E112. Subject to the EU Regulations and Guidelines, the TAS provides for the cost of approved treatments in another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland through the issue of form E112 (IE) where the treatment is:
- Among the benefits provided for by Irish legislation,
- Not available in Ireland,
- Not available within the time normally necessary for obtaining it in Ireland, taking account of the patient's current state of health and the probable course of the disease.
Applications to TAS are processed and a determination is given in accordance with the statutory framework prior to a patient travelling to avail of treatment. The statutory framework stipulates the patient must be a public patient and is required to have followed public patient pathways. GPs refer patients to consultants for acute care and it is the treating consultant who, having exhausted all treatment options including tertiary care within the country, refers the patient abroad under the terms of the TAS. The consultant must specify the specific treatment and in making the referral accepts clinical responsibility in relation to the physician and facility abroad where the patient will attend.
Each application is reviewed individually and a decision is made in accordance with the legislation and guidelines and on the basis of a review by clinical experts. Each application is given a formal written decision and where a decision is one of decline, the reason for that decision is clearly outlined and the option of an appeal is afforded. Previous approvals or declines are not used as an influencing factor on subsequent applications. The appeals process is outlined in each decline letter without exception. Where on appeal a decline decision is upheld, the appeal decision letter advises that the applicant can make a further appeal to the Office of the Ombudsman.
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.