Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 February 2018
193. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the measures in place to ensure that persons that are medical card holders are having their medical needs met without charge (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6512/18]
View answerWith reference to the provision of public hospital services, including consultant services, x-rays and blood tests, the Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all persons ordinarily resident in the country are entitled, subject to certain charges, to public in-patient and out-patient hospital services. The Act also provides that persons with full eligibility, i.e. those with a medical card are eligible for all these services without charge.
Persons with limited eligibility, i.e non-medical card holders are eligible for in-patient and out-patient public hospital services including consultant services, subject to certain charges. The public hospital statutory in-patient charge is €80 in respect of each day during which a person is maintained, up to a maximum payment of €800 in any twelve consecutive months.
Regarding the specific question of the operation of the DePuy ASR Hip reimbursement programme, this is an operational matter for the HSE and, accordingly, I have referred this specific matter to them for direct reply to the Deputy.
