Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 April 2011
349 Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will continue the decision of the last administration to rationalise the local processing of medical cards for persons under 70 years to Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7829/11]
Amharc ar fhreagra401 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress that has been made towards full centralisation of the medical card application process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7613/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 349 and 401 together.
Following the Health Service Executive (HSE) decision to centralise the processing of all Medical Cards and GP Visit Card applications and renewals, responsibility for this project was given to its Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) in Dublin. The medical card centralisation process is being introduced on phased basis from January 2009, when, as the first step, the PCRS took over the processing of all medical card applications for persons aged 70 or over. The project has continued to be expanded throughout 2009, 2010 and 2011. To date, the centralised office at the PCRS has processed over 315,673 medical card applications and reviews. Currently, approximately 39% of the Medical Card population is managed by the Medical Cards Central Office in the PCRS. Progress continues to be made in the centralisation project and redeployment of staff is now underway to facilitate this. The HSE anticipates that the centralisation project will be completed in the near future.
All HSE Local Health Offices now have full access to the national database of medical card clients, including historic records. This allows local offices to track the current status of applications and reviews being dealt with by the central office, and to answer queries locally in respect of current clients, new applicants or reviewed clients.The medical card database has been integrated with GPs and Pharmacists so that medical card holder can have their eligibility confirmed at point of service to avoid any delays. More than 5 million checks at point of service were made by GPs this way by the end of 2010.
