Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 June 2023
324. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if general practitioners receive a payment for each appointment attended by a medical card holder; if so, the level of payment received for each appointment attended; if a patient changes the GP practice they attend, does their medical card automatically follow them, or do they have to request a transfer of the medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26760/23]
View answerUnder the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme, GPs are reimbursed for the range of services they provide to medical card and GP visit card holders on behalf of the HSE. GMS GPs are remunerated for these services primarily on an annual capitation basis, with a range of additional support payments and fees for specific items of service and some consultation types. Outside of those specific payments, GPs are not paid for individual consultations.
The annual capitation rate payable for each medical card or GP visit card holder on a GP's panel varies depending largely on the patient's age and sex.
Under the GMS scheme, GPs receive subsidies towards the employment of practice staff, contributions towards locum expenses to cover periods of leave, contributions towards medical indemnity insurance premiums and support payments for rural GPs who qualify under the Rural Practice Support Framework.
Medical card and GP visit card holders have the freedom to move from one GMS GP to another, provided the new GP is willing to accept the patient to their panel. Patients who wish to change their GMS GP can do so via the “Change of GP form” available from the HSE website.
