Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Health Services Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2020

Tuesday, 7 July 2020

Ceisteanna (695)

John Brady

Ceist:

695. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for a review to be completed for funding for a care centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13902/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The NHSS, commonly referred to as Fair Deal, is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.

In 2020, the NHSS saw a further investment in its budget, to bring it to €1.07bn for the year. This significant investment will provide ongoing long-term residential care over the course of 2020 ensuring that the Scheme continues to deliver affordable and accessible nursing home care for our citizens with long-term care needs.

Separately, as part of package of support measures for nursing homes, my Department established a COVID-19 Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS), which opened for applications on 17th April 2020. The core concept of the scheme is that the State will provide additional funding to those nursing homes that require it, to contribute towards costs associated with COVID-19 preparedness, mitigation and outbreak management. The scheme was originally devised to operate for a 3-month period to the end of June, however I recently approved a 3-month extension to the scheme.

The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has been designated by the Minister for Health pursuant to Section 40 of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009 as a body authorised to negotiate with proprietors of non-HSE registered nursing homes to reach agreement in relation to the maximum price(s) that can be charged for the provision of long-term residential care services to NHSS residents.

As part of this function, the NTPF will enter into "Approved Nursing Home Agreements" with registered private and voluntary nursing homes to record the maximum price(s) that have been negotiated. Where, notwithstanding the best efforts of both parties, agreement is not reached through negotiation, the nursing home may elect by agreement, to enter a review process. The details of this process are set out on NTPF’s website www.ntpf.ie

It will be appreciated that particulars of all such negotiations and reviews are a matter between the nursing home and the NTPF. Accordingly the NTPF does not discuss publicly the details of negotiations with individual nursing homes.

The NTPF has statutory independence in the performance of its function and negotiates with a nursing home on an individual basis. As Minister for Health I do not have any role in this regard, I understand however, that engagement through the established mechanisms is ongoing.

Barr
Roinn