Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019
1941. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the projected additional cost in 2020 for the new general practitioner contract; the provision which was made in the 2019 Estimates for a new contract; the status of progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34379/19]
View answerUnder the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, GPs are reimbursed for a range of services they provide to medical card and GP visit card holders. Agreement was reached in April 2019 on the provision of new services and on a wide-ranging set of modernisation and reform measures.
In return for cooperation with these service developments and reforms, expenditure on general practice services will increase by approximately 40% (or €210 million) over the period 2019-2023. This will involve phased increases in capitation fees for GPs who participate in the reform programme and the introduction of new fees and subsidies for additional services - primarily the chronic disease management programme.
The estimated additional expenditure in 2019 arising from the agreement is €27 million. Further additional expenditure of approximately €53 million has been estimated for 2020, €15 million of which pertains to the implementation of the chronic disease programme.
