Vol. 503 No. 5
91 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children the changes in the general medical scheme to the participating doctors to accommodate medical card holders over 70 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10611/99]
As a result of the recent agreement with the Irish Medical Organisation on the matter of extending income eligibility for the over-70s, the existing capitation fees table for participating doctors was amended in respect of the persons aged 70 and over as follows:
|
Distance |
0-3 miles |
3-5 miles |
5-7 miles |
7-10 miles |
Over 10 miles |
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
|
Male |
62.67 |
70.32 |
81.70 |
92.88 |
106.77 |
|
Female |
69.90 |
77.57 |
88.95 |
100.13 |
114.03 |
92 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of additional people who will qualify to avail of general medical services due to the increase in income guidelines in the recent budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10612/99]
In announcing its intention to have the medical card income guidelines doubled for those aged 70 years and over the Government stated that this measure would be implemented over a three year period beginning on 1 March this year with an increase of one-third in the guidelines, and with similar increases in 2000 and 2001. In the absence of detailed information on the distribution of income among those who did not qualify for a medical card prior to 1 March, it is not possible to state exactly how many people will become eligible as a result of the improvement in the medical card income guidelines. Estimates suggest that about 30,000 additional persons will qualify over the three year period. My Department is monitoring the additional uptake of the medical cards resulting from the increased income guidelines.
