THE GOVERNMENT is to reduce fees paid to health service professionals by up to 8 per cent, Minister for Health Mary Harney announced last night.
The healthcare professionals concerned include GPs, dentists, optometrists, ophthalmologists and dispensing opticians who hold contracts with the Health Service Executive, as well as doctors and others who take smears under the national cervical screening programme, and psychiatrists who carry out work for mental health tribunals.
Ms Harney said she had not yet completed her deliberations in relation to fees paid to pharmacists.
The new fee reductions, which are being put in place under powers given to the Minister as part of legislation which also introduced the pension levy in February, will save the State an estimated €23 million in the remainder of this year and more than €38 million in a full year.
The Minister said she would be reducing by 8 per cent most fees and allowances paid to GPs in respect of medical card and GP visit card holders, the mother and infant care scheme and the primary childhood immunisation scheme.
She said these reductions would be expected to yield €20 million in the current year and €34 million in a full year.
However, in a move which is likely to lead to some controversy with doctors, the Government is to reduce again the fees paid for treating patients over 70 with a medical card, which were already cut back several months ago.
“In the case of medical card holders aged 70 years and over, the annual capitation fee is being reduced from €308.76 to €284.07. Prior to the budget in October 2008 the capitation fee for a person aged 70 and over holding a non-means-tested medical card was €640 per annum.
“This was reduced to €308.76 following Mr Eddie Sullivan’s report and the application of increases due under Towards 2016.
“However, given the deterioration in the economic situation since then, the Minister considers that the over-70s fee must be reduced by a further 8 per cent.
“The Minister has also decided to reduce by 8 per cent the special capitation payment of almost €974 per annum paid to GPs in respect of medical card holders aged 70 and over residing in private nursing homes.
“The new annual fee will be €899.83,” the Department of Health said.
