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Hospital Charges

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2012

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Ceisteanna (1558, 1593, 1595, 1596)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

1558. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the actual amount of additional revenue generated by increasing charges on private patients in public hospitals; the amount projected in budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37098/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

1593. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the charges set by him in respect of inpatient and outpatient hospital care and for visiting an accident and emergency department; if these charges have changed since February 2011; if these charges will change in 2012; the revenue accruing from such charges in 2011; the anticipated income in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37133/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

1595. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the rate of hospital charges - inpatient, outpatient and accident and emergency; the categories of patient required to pay hospital charges; the changes in charges which took place in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37135/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

1596. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the anticipated income from statutory inpatient, outpatient and accident and emergency charges in 2011 and 2012, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37136/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1558, 1593, 1595 and 1596 together.

The current statutory public in-patient charge is €75 per day, subject to a maximum of €750 in any period of 12 consecutive months.The statutory in-patient charge also applies to day cases. A number of categories of individuals are exempt from the above charge, including those with full eligibility.

Maintenance charges for private in-patient services in respect of private, semi-private and day-care accommodation in categories 1 and 2 public hospitals were increased with effect from 1 January 2012. The new rates are set out below. There were no changes in respect of category 3 hospitals. It is anticipated that the increased charges will yield additional revenue in the region of €18 million in 2012.

-

Hospital Category

Private Accommodation

Semi-Private Accommodation

Day-care

1

HSE Regional Hospitals, Voluntary & Joint Board Teaching Hospitals

€1,046

€933

€753

2

HSE County Hospitals

Voluntary Non-Teaching Hospitals

€819

€730

€586

3

HSE District Hospitals

€260

€222

€193

The private in-patient daily charge of €75, subject to a maximum payment of €750 in any period of 12 consecutive months, remained unchanged for 2012. These maintenance and daily charges are applicable to all private in-patients without exception. The A&E charge is provided for by the Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations 1994 (as amended). The charge is currently €100.The charge applies to persons attending Accident and Emergency and Casualty Departments subject to exemptions set out in these regulations, including medical card holders and those who have a letter of referral from a registered medical practitioner.

Private patients are liable to a charge for the use of MRI scans in a public hospital, currently set at a maximum of €400.

The Health Service Executive has indicated the anticipated income from hospital charges in 2012 as follows:

2011 Actual

€m

2012 Estimate

€m

Private Accommodation charges

464.2

488.2

Inpatient levy

48.6

54.3

Emergency Dept

16.4

16.5

The 2012 estimate of income is based on the extrapolation of the July 2012 year-to-date amounts.

Charges are kept under review in the context of the budgetary process but no decision has been taken to make any changes.

Question No. 1559 answered with Question No. 1554.
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