Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 June 2019
300. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce exemptions and cap registration fees in relation to the number of times a child visits the emergency department regarding a life long illness which could be twice or three times a month with fees of €100 per visit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24868/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations 2013, provide that, subject to specified exemptions, a charge shall be made for out-patient services provided at an emergency department, or any other facility providing similar services, in respect of the first occasion the service is provided in relation to each episode of care.
The Regulations sets out a number of categories of persons who are exempt from this charge including: a person with full eligibility; a child up to the age of 6 weeks; a child in respect of prescribed diseases of a permanent or long term nature; a person who has a letter of referral from a registered general practitioner, and a person whose attendance results in admission as an in-patient.
There are currently no plans to revise the format of the charge or exempt further categories of persons from the charge.
However, if the Deputy wishes to provide details of an individual case, including the person's identification details and long-term medical condition, I will ask the Health Service Executive to investigate the circumstances of the case and reply directly to the Deputy on the matter.
