The Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations 2019 provides that, subject to certain exemptions, a charge shall be made for out-patient services provided at designated centres including an emergency department (€100) and a minor injury unit (€75). These exemptions include a person with a medical card, a person who has a letter of referral from a registered medical practitioner, a person receiving services for the diagnosis or treatment of an infectious disease prescribes under part IV of the Health
On the 20th February 2020, the Minister for Health signed the 'Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Regulations 2020' to include Covid-19 on the list of notifiable infectious diseases. As a consequence, a person receiving services for the diagnosis or treatment of Covid-19 is exempt from the statutory €100 Emergency Department (and €75 Minor Injury Unit) charge.
I have no plans to amend the provisions in relation to the application of this charge.