Written Answers Nos. 234-253
234. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the reimbursement of strips for the CoaguChek machine under the GMS and drugs payment schemes to bring Ireland into line with other European countries; if the policy not to refund these products can be reviewed by the Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27639/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Therefore, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
235. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of people currently waiting to attend cancer genetics services, by waiting time period (0-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months, 18+ months) in CHI at Crumlin Hospital, in tabular form. [27641/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
236. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of people currently waiting to attend cancer genetics services, by waiting time period 0-6, 6-12 12-18 and 18+ months, in St. James's Hospital, in tabular form. [27642/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
237. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure the Health Insurance Authority facilitates comparisons between valid, existing, to be discontinued and other available policies on its website, where the website currently only presents comparisons between policies which may be purchased and does not provide a comparison tool against a customer’s existing policy where that policy is to be retired, in order to ensure full transparency for consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27647/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Insurance Authority (HIA) is the statutory regulator of the private health insurance market. It provides a free online comparison tool on their website, available at: www.hia.ie/comparison-tool/which allows health insurance customers to assess what plans are currently active across all health insurers in the market.
The website comparison tool only displays plans that are currently for sale on the market. Plans that are visible on the tool currently must be available to purchase by any person wishing to do so. If a consumer wishes to access information about any retired plans, they can contact the HIA via email, at info@hia.ie. They can also contact their consumer helpline on 0818 929 166 to speak directly to a consumer information officer.
238. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a CAMHS assessment for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27654/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond Directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
239. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he will examine a case for additional home help hours for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27657/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
240. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason an appeal under the community drug scheme for a continuous glucose monitoring sensor reimbursement was refused for a person in County Donegal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27664/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
241. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the full cost of awarding tax rebates to patients with interstitial lung disease to alleviate the personal financial burden of the disease, similar to that in place for kidney patients on dialysis (assuming 5,000 patients) with the primary rebate being for additional cost of electricity due to the need to use oxygen. [27669/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra242. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the total cost of establishing and maintaining a clinical care programme for interstitial lung disease patients assuming approximately 5,000 active cases and 1,000 new diagnoses per year. [27670/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the matter raised is a service delivery matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
243. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated total ongoing costs of managing a patient registry for interstitial lung disease patients across the public health system (assuming approximately 5,000 active cases and 1,000 new diagnoses per year). [27671/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the matter raised is a service delivery matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
244. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the sexual health clinic in Waterford is effectively non-operational and local health services are unable to offer PrEP services, for which people have to travel to Cork or Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27673/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
245. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if applicants being transferred from an acute hospital bed to a private nursing home have an automatic initial entitlement to nursing home subvention for a number of weeks whilst awaiting the outcome of a formal application for nursing home subvention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27684/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
246. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health to examine the case of a diabetic child requiring specialised equipment for a three-year-old (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27699/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
247. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if he will consider increasing the income limit for the over-70s medical card, given the increases in the State pension over recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27708/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraEligibility for a Medical Card is primarily based on a financial assessment which is conducted by the HSE in accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The HSE assesses each medical card application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a card. It is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances.
Persons aged 69 and under are assessed under the general means tested medical card thresholds which are based on an applicant’s household income after tax and the deduction of PRSI and the Universal Social Charge. Certain expenses are also taken into account. Examples of allowable expenses include rent, mortgage, certain insurance costs, childcare, maintenance, nursing home net costs which help to increase the amount a person can earn and still qualify for a medical card. Detailed guidelines are available at: Assessment for a medical card - HSE.ie.
Persons aged 70 or older are assessed under medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. The weekly gross medical card income thresholds for people aged 70 and over are currently €550 per week for a single person and €1050 for a couple. However, it should be noted that those aged over 70 can also be assessed under the general means tested scheme where there are particularly high costs, e.g., medication, nursing home fees. Furthermore, the Deputy may be aware that, since 2015, every individual aged 70 and over has automatic eligibility for a GP visit card.
Every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card - in particular, to take full account of difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. In such circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, for example:
• Discretionary medical cards issued to patients with significant medical expenses but who do not satisfy the means test.
• Emergency medical cards are issued to patients that are terminally ill, or are seriously ill, and in urgent need of medical care that they cannot afford.
• Medical cards issued to patients who are terminally ill with a prognosis of 24 months or less do not require subsequent means assessment and are not reviewed.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department keeps medical card issues under review in order to ensure the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs. Over the course of 2024 and 2025, we will review the existing eligibility framework to clearly assess what is working well and to inform policy proposals to enhance eligibility and access to services based on robust evidence. This is an important step towards delivering on universal healthcare in Ireland.
248. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of staff in the management and administrative sector of the health service paid €100,000 to €150,000 annually, €150,000 to €200,000 annually, €200,000 to €250,000 annually, and more than €250,000 annually, for each year from 2020 to 2024, in tabular form. [27716/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy in respect of this matter.
249. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will sanction the appointment to provide two advanced nurse practitioners for the adult type 1 diabetes service in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27718/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
250. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if every adult with type 1 diabetes attending Letterkenny University Hospital will receive an OPD appointment to be held in 2024; if not, the reason therefore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27719/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
251. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of the patients with type 1 diabetes attending the adult diabetes service in Letterkenny University Hospital have commenced insulin pump therapy; the number still on a waiting list to commence insulin pump therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27720/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
252. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health if information (details supplied) will be provided on the National Ambulance Service in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27757/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
253. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports that the DEXA machine in St. Vincent’s University Hospital is broken; when the machine will be back in commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27759/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
