Vol. 457 No. 4
26 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health if he intends to allow the VHI to reduce the length of time patients can remain under its care in hospital for psychiatric illness from six months to 40 days; and if he will agree not to proceed with this retrograde step. [14898/95]
Limerick East): At present under the rules of the Voluntary Health Insurance Board, health care benefit for hospital charges, including psychiatric hospitals, is payable for members up to a limit of 180 days in a subscription year. There are no proposals before my Department from the Voluntary Health Insurance Board to reduce the benefits it currently provides in relation to hospital charges for its members who are suffering from illnesses of a psychiatric nature.
The Deputy will be aware that it was originally proposed under the draft Health Insurance Regulations circulated by my Department that the minimum level of benefit for cover in a psychiatric hospital would be 40 days in a year. However, having had regard to the representations made to me about this proposal, I have decided that this level of minimum cover should be enhanced. The proposed regulatory framework for the health insurance business in this country is to be implemented on foot of the Third EC Non-Life Insurance Directive and officials of my Department are at present discussing the framework with the EU Commission.
