Consultation on Fees Payable to Health Care Professionals
The Minister for Health and Children in exercise of her powers under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act, 2009 will make Regulations shortly to reduce the rate of fees and associated payments payable to Health Care Professionals in respect of any services that they render to, or on behalf of, the Health Service Executive or other health body (as defined by the Act).
The professionals concerned include General Practitioners, Dentists, Pharmacists, Optometrists, Podiatrists and Chiropodists who hold contracts with the HSE or other health body.
Prior to making Regulations, the Minister is required to engage in such consultations as she considers appropriate. The Minister has determined that the consultation period shall commence on 4 March and under the provisions of the Act shall be completed by Friday 3 April 2009.
The Minister invites interested parties to provide written submissions to assist in her deliberations on this matter. Attention is drawn in particular to the matters set out at section 9 (5) of the Act.
The following should be noted in relation to submissions
- Submissions should be sent by e mail to the Department of Health and Children at professionalpaymentsconsultation@health.gov.ie or by post to Professional Fees Consultation, Department of Health and Children, Room 645, Hawkins House, Dublin 2 to arrive not later than 5.30pm on Wednesday 18 March 2009,
- Submissions will be copied by the Department to the officials of the HSE or other health body, where appropriate,
- Submissions may be made available by the Department to the Department of Finance and other Departments who hold contracts with such professionals,
- Written submissions may also be copied to financial, economic or legal advisors of the Department, the HSE or other health body, as appropriate, to assist in the analysis of same,
- Written submissions will be subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Acts and may be subject to release. If a person making a submission considers that any element in it is sensitive, those elements should be clearly identified and the reasons for the sensitivity should be specified. The Department will, where possible, consult with the person about any information which he/she has identified as sensitive information before making a decision in response to a request for release under the Freedom of Information Acts.
