David Cullinane
Ceist:1629. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of abolishing hospital inpatient charges; and the estimated cost of abolishing same for children only. [29863/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 14 June 2022
Ceisteanna (1629)
Freagraí scríofa
Normal patient activity has been affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic and as a result 2020 and 2021 are not representative of normal services. Therefore 2019 would currently be the best representation of Income levels outside of the COVID Pandemic.
In 2019, €30.6 million was raised through the statutory inpatient charge in the Acute Hospitals.
Funding was provided in Budget 2022 for measures to alleviate the financial burden of statutory hospital charges incurred for children accessing care in a public hospital. My Department has subsequently been working to prepare the draft Heads of legislation necessary to amend the Health Act 1970 to abolish the acute public in-patient charge for children.
Government approved, on 9th June 2022, the General Scheme of the Health (Exemption for Children from Public In-Patient Charges) Bill 2022 which provides for the abolition of acute public in-patient charges for children less than 16 years. The General Scheme will now be referred to the Office of the Attorney General for priority drafting of the Bill and it is intended to progress the legislation through the Houses of the Oireachtas as a priority. The full year cost of funding the abolition of public in-patient charges for children will be finalised as part of the Budget 2023 estimates process.