Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2019
326. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if it is policy for patients with disabilities in community houses who have medical cards to be charged a general practitioner fee for a medical exam every 24 weeks or six months; if not, the reason this is occurring in some community houses in the Fingal area; his plans in instances in which patients are being charged this fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16104/19]
View answerUnder the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with "all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess." There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for medical services provided under the contract.
As this question relates to a local matter, I have arranged for it to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
