With reference to the provision of public hospital services, including consultant services, x-rays and blood tests, the Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all persons ordinarily resident in the country are entitled, subject to certain charges, to public in-patient and out-patient hospital services. The Act also provides that persons with full eligibility, i.e. those with a medical card are eligible for all these services without charge.
Persons with limited eligibility, i.e non-medical card holders are eligible for in-patient and out-patient public hospital services including consultant services, subject to certain charges. The public hospital statutory in-patient charge is €80 in respect of each day during which a person is maintained, up to a maximum payment of €800 in any twelve consecutive months.
Regarding the specific question of the operation of the DePuy ASR Hip reimbursement programme, this is an operational matter for the HSE and, accordingly, I have referred this specific matter to them for direct reply to the Deputy.