Primary Care Reimbursement Service Payments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021

Wednesday, 21 April 2021

Questions (1602)

Seán Fleming

Question:

1602. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the document in which it has been established that a blood test should not have been charged by the local general practitioner (details supplied); the number of refunds that have been issued to persons that have made a complaint in relation to the matter; the value of these repayments; the number of deductions from regular payments that have been made to general practitioners; the value of same in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18402/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Persons who are eligible for GP care without charge under the Health Act 1970 are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services. There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition. This has been advised to GPs by the HSE.

If a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes he or she has been incorrectly charged for routine phlebotomy services by his or her GP, then that patient should report the matter to their HSE Local Health Office. The local management, upon being notified of potential inappropriate charging of GMS patients, carry out an investigation into each complaint and will, where appropriate, arrange for a refund of charges incorrectly applied by the GP.

In relation to your request for information on the document concerned and the refunds processed from 2019 to date, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly on these matters, as soon as possible.