Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 February 2013
264. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Health the amount paid to general practitioners for each medical card patient they treat for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9506/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE, through the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS), makes payments to General Practitioners (GPs) for services they provide to eligible persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card. GPs are remunerated in respect of these patients principally on the basis of fees and payments set out in the Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to General Practitioners) Regulations 2010.
Included among fees paid to GPs are a range of capitation fees, which vary depending on the age and gender of the patient. In addition, there are special capitation rates for persons over 70 residing at home and for persons over 70 residing in private nursing homes. There are also a number of additional payments, e.g. in respect of out-of-hours consultations, temporary residents, special items of services (including suturing of cuts and lacerations, recognised vein treatment, etc.), practice support allowances and payments in respect of locum expenses.
e PCRS publishes a Statistical Analysis of Claims and Payments for each year (available on line at: http://www.pcrs.ie/ (PCRS Publications). The PCRS reports list the average payments to GPs per eligible person as follows:
|
Year |
Average Payment Per Person |
|
2006 |
€314.85 |
|
2007 |
€349.03 |
|
2008 |
€352.67 |
|
2009 |
€337.94 |
|
2010 |
€284.92 |
The PCRS has advised that the 2011 report will be placed on its website shortly.
