Vol. 550 No. 2
317 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will clarify the exact implications of his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 243 of 12 February 2002, as to whether fees paid to general practitioners and payments made for prescribed medicines will be refunded in full without deduction or threshold to those who became eligible for medical card cover on 1 July 2001. [7875/02]
Any person aged 70 years and over who has attended his or her general practitioner since 1 July 2001 and been charged for the visits will be entitled to a refund provided that the doctor concerned has applied to the local health board for inclusion in the GMS scheme under the special provisions of a limited contract to treat persons in this age category. My Department understands that the Irish Medical Organisation asked its members not to charge patients consultation fees during the interim period while their applications for inclusion in the scheme were being processed. Refunds will have to be made to the patients by the doctors concerned.
On the question of refunds of moneys paid for prescribed medicines since 1 July 2001, my Department understands that several boards have in fact been processing these claims for refunds. A letter has issued to all other boards notifying them of this method of processing the outstanding claims.
There should be no deductions from refunds of fees and the only deductions from refunds in respect of payments to pharmacies would be in respect of items not included on the GMS prescribed list of products.
