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Medical Cards

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 February 2021

Wednesday, 17 February 2021

Questions (915)

Mark Ward

Question:

915. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if he has considered extending medical card services to include counsellors and physiotherapists. [8763/21]

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Written answers

Under the Health Act 1970, eligibility for a medical card is based primarily on means. The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without due hardship, to arrange general practitioner services for himself or herself and his or her family, having regard to his or her overall financial position and reasonable expenditure. The issue of granting medical cards based on having a particular disease or illness was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.

However, every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines.

Individuals who possess a medical card can access HSE provided physiotherapy services where available either in a hospital setting or in the community, while the Counselling in Primary Care service is available to adults over 18 years who are medical card holders and experiencing mild to moderate psychological and emotional difficulties.

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