Medical Card Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 March 2017

Wednesday, 8 March 2017

Questions (221)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

221. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of granting an automatic medical card to all those in receipt of domiciliary care allowance; the annual cost of the provision of this to new applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12303/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

At current card cost levels the €10m provided in Budget 2017 for the provision of medical card to those in receipt of Domiciliary Care Allowance will meet just over 6 months worth of reimbursement. As the HSE's Primary Care Reimbursement Service reimburse one month in arrears, this funding equates to 7 months worth of services in 2017.

This funding assumes the following:-

- the number of allowance holders provided is not understated;

- there is an immediate uptake; and

- the new cards usage is similar to those currently in the system.

Any change in one of those assumptions may impact on the funding level.