Vol. 486 No. 2
18 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the hardship and distress caused to patients by the practice of balance billing; and if he will eliminate this practice. [2215/98]
In the private medical insurance market, balance billing arises where insurers and service providers are unable to agree full reimbursement arrangements for the provision of services by the latter to the former's subscribers or members. The parties endeavour to make such arrangements through normal commercial negotiations, with providers seeking to obtain what they regard as an appropriate financial return for their services and insurers seeking to achieve what they regard as best value for money in order to contain increases in claims expenditure and, consequently, in premium costs generally.
I do not have any statutory function in relation to such negotiations and it would not be appropriate for me, as Minister, to intervene in the competitive market in this regard.
