Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2023
772. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the full details of the GP visit card expansion agreement announced on 4 July 2023, in tabular form; the categories and timelines for implementation; the first- and full-year cost of measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33889/23]
View answer773. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the full details of additional supports agreed for GPs, in tabular form; the timeframe for implementation by measure; the first- and full-year cost of measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33890/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 772 and 773 together.
I propose to take PQ 33889/23 & PQ 33890/23 together.
As was announced on the 4th of July 2023, eligibility for GP visit cards will be extended to people who earn up to the median household income and for children ages 6 & 7 years old.
Approximately 78,000 children aged 6 & 7 who currently access GP care on a private basis will benefit from this measure.
Approximately 430,000 additional persons, who otherwise would have attended their GP on a private basis, are expected to become eligible for free GP care under this expansion, the largest expansion in GP care without charges in the history of the State.
Ensuring that more people can afford to visit their GP gives access to healthcare in the right place - one of the central commitments in the Programme for Government. It also removes the burden on people who may defer GP visits because they simply cannot afford it.
This expansion in care will be implemented with the agreement of the IMO and will put in place a series of capacity supports to allow GPs to recruit additional staff, as well as increases in fees to take account of the likely increase in demand for services. The total financial package will amount to approximately €130 million in a full year, and an estimated €31 million in 2023.
Agreed Fee changes
|
CapitationChildren aged 6 & 7 |
€100 |
|
Eligible children aged 8 – 12 |
€100 |
|
Eligible individuals aged 13 – 69 |
10% increase |
|
Capacity supportsAdditional staff |
Maximum of €15,000 per GP with a minimum panel size of 500 |
|
Retention practice support staff |
Existing subsidy increased to 75% of reckonable salary + employer’s PRSI |
|
ContraceptionLong-Acting Reversible Contraception |
Alignment of fees with Universal scheme rates |
|
Consultations |
1 consultation per annum per GMS patient aged 31 - 44 |
Revised Capitation Rates
|
Cohort |
Annual Capitation |
|
Child Patient Aged between 6 and 7 years (inclusive) |
€100.00 |
|
Child Patient Aged between 8 and 12 years (inclusive) |
€100.00 |
|
Male patient aged 13 years and less than 16 years |
€70.71 |
|
Male patient aged 16 years and less than 45 years |
€90.26 |
|
Male patient aged 45 years and less than 65 years |
€180.29 |
|
Male patient aged 65 years and less than 70 years |
€189.92 |
|
Female patient aged 13 years and less than 16 years |
€71.52 |
|
Female patient aged 16 years and less than 45 years |
€147.60 |
|
Female patient aged 45 years and less than 65 years |
€198.10 |
|
Female patient aged 65 years and less than 70 years |
€211.87 |
Revised GMS Contraception Rates
|
Applicable Services Rendered by a Registered Medical Practitioner on behalf of the Health Service Executive under the General Medical Services Scheme. |
|
|
Description |
Amount |
|
Consultation provided to an eligible woman aged between 31-44 years (inclusive) for the purposes of obtaining a prescription for accessing relevant products. |
€55.00 |
|
Fitting by a Registered Medical Practitioner of a relevant product that is a Coil for an eligible woman aged over 30 years. |
€160.00 |
|
Removal by a Registered Medical Practitioner of a relevant product that is a Coil for an eligible woman aged over 30 years. |
€50.00 |
|
Fitting by a Registered Medical Practitioner of a relevant product that is a contraceptive implant for an eligible woman aged over 30 years |
€100.00 |
|
Removal by a Registered Medical Practitioner of a relevant product that is a contraceptive implant for an eligible woman aged over 30 years |
€110.00 |
The estimated full year cost of implementing this agreement is set out below.
|
Item |
FYC (€m) |
|
Capitation fees |
€41.34 |
|
Out-of-Hours |
€2 |
|
Capacity Supports |
€30.71 |
|
Contraception |
€5.54 |
|
Median Income Card Costs |
€50.80 |
|
Total |
€130.39 |
The applications process for patients will be introduced on a phased basis.
- Applications for children aged 6 & 7 will open on 11 August 2023.
- Applications for the first group under the median-income expansion will commence on 11 September 2023.
- Applications for the full group under the median-income expansion will commence on 13 November 2023.
The new capitation rates will be applicable from 1st August 2023 for GPs that sign up to the new agreement by 9 August.
