Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 October 2017
413. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if persons with haemochromatosis are to be charged €80 for outpatient attendance to have their blood drawn off; if so, if this applies just to private patients; if this charge will be imposed on medical card patients also; the justification for imposing fees on this treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42221/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOutpatient charges are set by S. I. No. 45/2013 - Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations 2013. Currently, the only charge for an outpatient service is at an Emergency Department, ED. Medical Card holders are exempt from this ED charge.
The €80 charged referred to by the Deputy is the statutory daily charge, up to a maximum of €800, where a person has been referred to a hospital for an inpatient service, including that provided on a day-case basis. Medical card holders are also exempt from this charge. On this basis, where venesection is classed as a day case procedure and is not carried out in an out patient setting, the public inpatient charge applies. There are no plans at present to exclude haemochromatosis patients from this charge.
