Written Answers Nos. 1086-1105
1086. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will review a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1627/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1087. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that the pay rate for a newly qualified nurse and midwife graduate in 2009 was €33,470 and it will be reduced to €22,000 in 2013; if he will outline the way this reduction of 34% compares to the percentage reduction over the same period for those commencing work in the health services as hospital consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1648/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe starting pay rate for a newly qualified staff nurse/midwife in 2009 was €33,470, which was the second point of the pay scale. At that time, entrants were placed on the second point of the salary scale reflecting time spent in clinical placements as students prior to registration. Incremental credit is no longer granted in respect of placements prior to registration. The first point of the staff nurse/midwife pay scale in 2009 was €31,875. The first point of the staff nurse/midwifery pay scale is now €27,211.
The HSE has recently commenced a graduate employment initiative which will support the retention of recently qualified graduate nurses and midwives within the Irish health system and enable them to gain valuable work experience and development opportunities post-graduation. Under the Initiative, up to 1,000 graduate nurses will be recruited on two-year contracts and will be paid 80% of the first point of the Staff Nurse Scale. These staff will also qualify for premium payments and allowances on a pro rata basis, bringing expected average pay to about €25,000 per year, excluding overtime.
The starting salary for consultants is 40% lower now than in 2009.
1088. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the fact that all pensioners between 66 and 70 years are over the threshold financially for a medical card because the income limit for a single person is €201 and their pension is €238, he will consider disregarding more outgoings such as refuse, heating, fuel, electricity for that age group in view of the fact that the current outgoings that are disregarded are mostly not applicable to that age group in view of the fact that their mortgages are generally paid off and they do not have to travel to work or have childcare expenses, or if he will consider raising the income limit for eligibility to a more reasonable figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1653/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the provisions of the Health Act 1970, medical cards are provided to persons who, in the opinion of the Health Service Executive, are unable without undue hardship to arrange general practitioner medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants. The assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the means of the applicant and his/her dependants.
In assessing medical card entitlement for people under 70 years of age, calculations are based on income net of income tax and PRSI and allowances are given for reasonable expenses incurred in respect of rent/mortgage payments; in respect of childcare costs and in respect of expenses incurred in travel to work. Expenditure in relation to medical costs will be considered. Applicants whose weekly incomes are derived solely from Social Welfare or Health Service Executive allowances/payments, which are in excess of the financial guidelines, are granted a medical card.
Approximately 1.85 million people are covered by a medical card, an increase of almost 25% since the end of 2009. The cost of the medical card scheme in 2012 is estimated to have been approximately €1.9 billion. There are currently no proposals to extend the list of outgoings/expenses which are considered when assessing medical card eligibility for any particular age group.
1089. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will reverse the proposed cut of €250,000 to childvision disability services in Dublin 9 in 2013 [1689/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra1102. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the impact of the 5% cut to the annual core grant of an educational centre (details supplied) in Dublin 9 in view of the fact that it will have significant repercussions on the service being provided for severely disabled children [1759/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1089 and 1102 together.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1090. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners who have been reported to the Health Service Executive for charging medical card holders for blood tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1690/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn circumstances where the taking of blood is necessary to either (a) assist in the process of diagnosing a patient or (b) monitor a diagnosed condition, General Practitioners (GPs) may not charge patients if they are eligible for free GMS services under the Health Act, 1970, as amended. It is the contracted responsibility of GPs to provide proper and necessary treatment to eligible persons. If part of that proper and necessary treatment includes routine phlebotomy, GPs must provide such services free of charge under the terms of their General Medical Services (GMS) contract.
The HSE has written to GP contract holders and clarified the position in relation to this matter and has also communicated its position to the Irish Medical Organisation.
As of October 2012, the HSE had received formal complaints that 14 GPs had allegedly charged patients for phlebotomy services. Where evidence had emerged of GPs charging patients for routine phlebotomy services, the HSE wrote to the GP contractors advising them that by charging GMS patients they were in breach of the GMS contract and that persistence in the practice of charging patients could have contractual implications, including adjustments to routine payments such as nurse subsidies. Of the 14 GPs who were reported to the HSE Primary Care Units for charging for phlebotomy services in October 2012, at least 2 GPs refunded patients. another instance, a new GP joined the practice of one of the GPs and charging for phlebotomy services has since ceased at that practice. 2 of the other GPs were found to have charged legitimately as the blood tests were not ‘routine’. The HSE is continuing to address this issue.
The HSE is also continuing to advise eligible patients who believe they have been inappropriately charged by a GP for routine phlebotomy services, to seek a refund from the GPs in question.
1091. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made between his Department, the Health Service Executive and the Irish Medical Orgainsation to review the GMS contract with general practitioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1691/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a new General Medical Services (GMS) General Practitioner (GP) contract with an increased emphasis on the management of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. It is envisaged that the new contract, when finalised, will focus on prevention and will include a requirement for GPs to provide care as part of integrated multidisciplinary Primary Care Teams.
My Department and the HSE are currently examining the changes that need to be made to the GMS contract to facilitate the introduction of Universal Primary Care. There have been preliminary discussions with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) to outline policy in this regard and I would hope that we will be able to engage in further discussions before long.
1092. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be called for surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1695/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe management of inpatient and daycase waiting lists for patients awaiting public health care is based on the principle that after urgent and cancer patients are treated, then clinically assessed routine patients should be seen in chronological order (i.e. longest waiter first).
In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
1094. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health when a decision on a discretionary medical card will issue in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1709/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1096. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the number of persons in the State in receipt of home help hours and are also cared for by persons who are in receipt of carer's benefit; if he or his Department officials have ever discussed with the health Service Executive and the Department of Social Protection the reason any person cared for by a person receiving carer's benefit and the respite care grant should require home help hours also; his views on whether the impact nationally of recent cuts in home help hours would be lessened if the practice of granting home help hours to persons being cared for by recipients of carer's benefit was abolished [1712/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer’s allowance and carer’s benefit fall within the remit of the Department of Social Protection, and are paid to people who are caring for a person who needs full-time care and attention. They are intended as an income support for the carer and not to supplement the cost of care. In many cases the care recipient will be in receipt of an income support payment in their own right, for example disability allowance or State pension. The fact that a carer is in receipt of carer’s allowance or carer’s benefit does not preclude them from receiving home help or other supports from the HSE.
A person who is caring for someone on a full-time basis with a serious illness or severe mental or physical disability may have a genuine need for support by way of a home help. Officials in my Department have regular consultation with their colleagues in the Department of Social Protection on matters of concern for carers and the full range of supports for carers from the two Departments.
1097. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the administration of a drug in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1719/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive is responsible for the supply of drugs. The HSE has therefore been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1101. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health if he will review the home care package in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork with a view to the re-instatement of necessary hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1751/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1103. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health on behalf of a person (details supplied), if he will provide an update on the allocation of home help hours, which despite her advanced years and delicate health have been decreased rather than increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1764/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1104. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the way a nurse, who commenced employment with a hospital in November 2012 on a one year contract basis, could have her contract unilaterally cancelled and be advised to re-apply for the new nursing contracts being proposed by hie Department and the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1806/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1105. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the timescale envisaged for the publication of legislation to provide for the changes to eligibility criteria for medical card applicants who are over-seventy; the way it is proposed to discontinue medical card entitlement in respect of people who currently hold a medical card but who will exceed the guidelines when the legislation is commenced, and in particular those whose medical card was granted up to a specific period and is not due for renewal for a number of years [1814/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Budget 2013, it was announced that the income thresholds for medical cards for the over 70’s age group are to be changed. The intention is that: persons aged 70 years and over, whose gross weekly income is not more than €600 in the case of single persons and €1,200 in te case of couples, will qualify for full eligibility (medical cards); and persons aged 70 years and over, whose gross weekly income is more than €600 but less than €700 in the case of single persons and more than €1,200 but less than €1,400 in the case of couples, will qualify for GP Visit Cards.
People who lose the medical card will be entitled to make use of the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) which reimburses the cost of medication that exceeds a monthly threshold. Primary legislation is required to implement the new eligibility criteria. Heads of Bill are being currently being prepared and it is anticipated that the legislation will be published during the current session.
