Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 January 2019
360. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to address general practitioners charging medical card holders €25 for blood tests; the steps he will take to address general practitioners refusing medical card holders referrals to free HSE blood test clinics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4048/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with, ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess". There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP, which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition.
The HSE has advised GPs that where a blood test forms part of the investigation or necessary treatment of a patient’s symptoms or conditions, this should be free of charge for patients who hold a medical card or GP visit card. Notwithstanding this, I am aware that some GPs are charging GMS patients for phlebotomy services in some circumstances.
This is a matter of concern for me as it has long been the position, under successive Governments, that no user charges should apply to GP services provided to GMS and GP visit card patients. If a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes he or she has been incorrectly charged for routine phlebotomy services by his or her GP, then that patient should report the matter to their HSE Local Health Office.
In relation to GPs refusing to refer medical card patients to HSE blood test clinics, neither my Department nor the HSE are aware of such an issue. If the Deputy would like to supply further details of a particular case he is aware of to my Department, I will ask the HSE to look into the matter.
