Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 February 2022
159. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the practice of divulging a patient’s personal details with debt collection agencies in cases in which a patient has outstanding hospital inpatient charges complies with GDPR; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6956/22]
View answerPatient charges are a key element of the overall funding envelope of the Irish health system and are taken into account when agreeing the Annual Estimates and the subsequent preparation of the HSE’s annual National Service Plan.
These charges typically include:
Out-patient charges;
In-patient charges; and
Long-term stay charges.
Certain cohorts of people may be exempt from some or all of these charges.
In addition, patients who opt for private in-patient services in public hospitals are liable for a range of private in-patient charges. There are no exemptions from these charges.
Non collection of debts owed directly impacts on the affordability of services provided by the Health Service Executive in any year. It is therefore incumbent on the HSE to take all reasonable steps to pursue amounts owed for services delivered. Debt collection agencies are engaged when normal billing arrangements have been unsuccessful.
The operational detail of this question is a matter for the HSE and I have asked them to respond to you directly in relation to that detail.
