Róisín Shortall
Ceist:392. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for a pre-exposure prophylaxis appointment, by clinic and wait time. [5396/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMedicinal Products
Ceisteanna (392)
Freagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (393)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:393. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive support from the Donegal north children’s disability network team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5399/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disabilities Assessments
Ceisteanna (394)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:394. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect an assessment for autism to be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5400/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medical Inquiries
Ceisteanna (395)
Johnny Guirke
Ceist:395. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update regarding the establishment of the promised inquiry on the historical licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate; when he expects the inquiry will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5401/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
All documentation to progress the proposed inquiry into the historical licensing and use of Sodium Valproate in Ireland is been finalised by officials within the Department of Health.
A Memo for Government will be brought as soon as this work is completed
Health Services
Ceisteanna (396)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:396. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5404/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (397)
Paul Murphy
Ceist:397. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he agrees that full-time carers to children and adults with a lifelong disability should be entitled to a medical card; if he will take steps to ensure that this is introduced as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5409/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
At the outset, I can assure the Deputy that I recognise the important role full-time carers to children and adults with a lifelong disability play in communities.
Eligibility for a medical card is based primarily on residency and means under the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The Act provides that persons who are unable, without due hardship, to arrange GP services for themselves and family can qualify for full eligibility (a medical card). The HSE awards medical cards in accordance with the Health Act and assesses applicants on the overall financial situation of the applicant and his or her spouse or partner.
Every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of any difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. The HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card or GP visit card, even though an applicant exceeds the income threshold where they face difficult social or financial circumstances.
It is also important to note that if a person's sole income is derived from a social welfare payment, even where this payment is in excess of the current income thresholds, a medical card will be awarded. Carer’s Allowance is not included in the assessment process for a medical card while some of the Carer’s Benefit is included where there is income from other sources.
I can advise the Deputy that, since July 2018, persons in receipt of either full or half rate Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit receive automatic eligibility for a GP visit card.
Insurance Coverage
Ceisteanna (398)
Robert Troy
Ceist:398. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will address an anomaly in relation to private health insurance whereby policy-holders automatically have to take out maternity cover; and his views that such cover should be an optional add-on to insurance policies. [5413/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In Ireland we have a voluntary, community rated private health insurance market. The Irish market operates under four key principles – community rating, open enrolment, lifetime cover and minimum benefits.
Minimum Benefit Regulations, made under the Health Insurance Acts, require insurers to offer minimum benefits to every insured person regardless of the plan they purchase. Every plan available is inclusive of a minimum level of hospital cover and a suite of procedures, some of which are available to the market as a whole and some of which will be applicable specifically to either men or women. By way of example, the Regulations include provision for such medical treatments as a prostatectomy or testicular biopsy (in the case of men) and cervical biopsy or maternity services (in the case of women).
The health services and procedures provided by minimum benefit should be viewed as a cohort of procedures that are important and of benefit to the community of the insured population, and thus should be protected and provided as a minimum base to all.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Ceisteanna (399)
Matt Carthy
Ceist:399. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) will be awarded the pandemic payment bonus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5421/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (400)
Verona Murphy
Ceist:400. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the date he last had face-to-face discussions with an organisation (details supplied) regarding the dental treatment services scheme; the outcome of those discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5422/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It is a top priority for myself and for the Government to improve patient access to oral healthcare services, both in the short term through a range of interim measures, and in the long term through transformational reform of oral healthcare services in Ireland. This reform will be achieved through implementation of the National Oral Health Policy.
I, along with officials from my Department and from the HSE, met with the Irish Dental Association (IDA) on 20 November 2020. My officials then continued to engage with the IDA on a package of measures introduced from 1 May 2022, to expand the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) for adult medical card holders and increase the fees paid to contractors for most treatment items by 40-60%. The numbers of patients being seen and the numbers of treatments being provided under the DTSS have all increased in recent months.
In addition, the Chief Dental Officer and other officials in the Department of Health met with the IDA on 29 July 2022 and 2 December 2022 to discuss implementation of the National Oral Health Policy.
Nursing Homes
Ceisteanna (401)
Verona Murphy
Ceist:401. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his Department will make provision to assist in addressing the surging costs being incurred by private nursing homes which has led to the closure of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5425/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of Health takes the closures of nursing homes very seriously. The closure of nursing homes can put pressure on other local health and social care facilities. It is vital that the welfare of residents is ensured. There a number of reasons for nursing home closures each year including retirement, non-compliance with HIQA regulations, financial viability and, in some cases, recognition that the premises would not be compliant with revised regulations.
Funding to support people to access services in the nursing home sector continues to be provided in line with the long-established statutory mechanisms under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009. This is the mechanism established by the Oireachtas to provide for the processes relating to funding under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) and the negotiation of prices for services for private and voluntary providers with the designated State agency, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). Maximum prices for individual nursing homes are agreed with the NTPF following negotiations and based on the NTPF’s cost criteria. These criteria include costs reasonably incurred by the nursing home, local market prices, historic prices and overall budgetary capacity.
The NTPF carry out this role independently under the NHSS Act 2009. The NTPF has statutory independence, and there is no role for Ministers or the Department of Health in these negotiations. The Department of Health published a review of the NTPF pricing system in June 2021.
The cost of residential care to the State was approximately €1.4 billion in 2022, including contributions from residents. Budget 2023 saw over €40 million in additional funding for the NHSS which will provide for an uplift in the maximum prices chargeable by private and voluntary nursing homes, as negotiated.
The Government remains conscious of the financial challenges faced by the Nursing Home sector, particularly in terms of inflationary cost increases. I encourage all eligible providers to avail of the €10m Temporary Inflation Payment Scheme (TIPS) which covers up to 75% of year-on-year energy and heating cost increases in private and voluntary nursing homes up to a monthly cap of €5,250 per month per nursing home over the period of July to December 2022 (€31,500 per nursing home for 2022).
Since the start of the pandemic, private and voluntary nursing homes have received a wide range of non-financial supports, including over €72m in free PPE and oxygen, as well as over €147m of financial support through the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS). The TAPS COVID-19 Outbreak Assistance was also extended to the end of 2022.
The Department of Health intends to extend the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) COVID-19 Outbreak Assistance and Temporary Inflation Payment Scheme (TIPS) to the end of March 2023. Any further extension or expansion of either scheme will be kept under review.
I am currently in discussions with Departmental officials to examine ways in which funding can also continue to be used to provide support, where necessary and appropriate, to those nursing homes who are not scheduled to renegotiate their Deeds of Agreement this year. Other options to support nursing homes are also being explored.
Nursing Homes
Ceisteanna (402)
Verona Murphy
Ceist:402. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the engagement his Department has had with private nursing homes in County Wexford regarding the purchase of step-down beds as a means of freeing up capacity in Wexford General Hospital; the details of that engagement; the average quoted weekly costs of step-down beds in private nursing homes in County Wexford against the inpatient hospital weekly cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5427/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.