Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 March 2024
364. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health when the commitment to increase the fees payable to contractors for a standard eye examination under the Community Ophthalmic Services Scheme will occur; to clarify if this fee will now be equal to the eye test fee payable to contractors under the Department of Social Protection's optical benefit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11300/24]
View answerThe Community Ophthalmic Services Scheme (COSS) is a national fee-per-item scheme which was introduced in 1979. Under the COSS, medical card holders aged over 16 years can be seen by ophthalmologists, community ophthalmic physicians, optometrists or dispensing opticians.
Eligible patients can receive an eye examination and be provided with prescribed optical appliances in accordance with a national schedule of approved optical appliances.
The Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Ophthalmologists, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians) Regulations 2013 (SI 274 of 2013) sets the fees for optometrists and dispensing opticians under the Community Optometric Services, Community Spectacle Dispensing Services and Health Amendment Act Card Schemes.
I am committed to increasing the fee payable to contractors for a standard eye examination under the COSS, to ensure parity with that payable for the same exam under the Department of Social Protection’s Treatment Benefit Scheme. This is a priority for my Department, and work with stakeholders is ongoing to implement this change as soon as possible.
