GPs to consider new €290 medical card fee

[lostexpectation]

this story has gone quiet even though things are happening

RTÉ News: IMO considers new medical card fee

The IMO may decide to ballot its 2,200 GPs on the payment, which represents a reduction of around €350 on the current fee of €640

details, eddie sullivan came up with that report quickly eh..
GPs face massive over 70s fee cut

they also mention a review of drugs cost
Irish Medical Times | News | IMO meets on ?350 medical 'gold' cards fee cut

[junketman]

Are they legally entitled to ballot on this issue? I thought there was supposed to be competition among doctors and hence they can't engage in price fixing or an agreed price among them.

Where is the EU and competition authority when you really want them regarding competition?

[spidermom]

You would imagine this will equate to a massive drop in funding for gp's! While it seems to generally accepted the original price was too high I see my mam and dads gp able to offer them services NOW that he was unable to offer in the past( now that he has a full time practise nurse!!!!!!!!!) Mam has had a full cardio assessment which she needs, an osteoporosis assessment and dad a 24 hour BP monitor.

Could/would it be fairer if all medical card visits were on a pay per visit system?
At least then we may be able to genuinely assess how great is the medical need according to age,illness,demographics , income etc.

This could also influence health planning as in areas of greater need could be first in the queue for one of the much vaulted "Pimary care centres"?

[droghedasouth]

You would imagine this will equate to a massive drop in funding for gp's! While it seems to generally accepted the original price was too high I see my mam and dads gp able to offer them services NOW that he was unable to offer in the past( now that he has a full time practise nurse!!!!!!!!!) Mam has had a full cardio assessment which she needs, an osteoporosis assessment and dad a 24 hour BP monitor.

Could/would it be fairer if all medical card visits were on a pay per visit system?
At least then we may be able to genuinely assess how great is the medical need according to age,illness,demographics , income etc.

This could also influence health planning as in areas of greater need could be first in the queue for one of the much vaulted "Pimary care centres"?

IMO wanted a fee per visit system back in 2002 but government insisted on annual fee and the rest is history.

All the usual verbiage about investing in front-line services.
In the end the only thing that is sacrosanct is the pay of public servants who enjoy practically complete security of employment, excellent salaries and pensions to die for.
The permanent government are very good at ensuring that the transient here-today-gone-November-2009 government protect their interests.

[spidermom]

AGREED and the small matter of a policy change by the HSE that health care should be accessed at a local level eg chronic disease management ETC and my FAV remember this quote (not verbatim) " Its not more hospital beds we need its how we use them"(prof drumm)

PERHAPS HE WAS SUGGESTING BUNK BEDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!