Review of Regulations made under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009
The Minister for Health and Children is required to review the Regulations made during 2009 under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act, 2009 that reduced certain payments payable to health professionals. On foot of the reviews, the Minister may decide to make no changes in payments, to impose further reductions or to increase payments.
The Regulations to be reviewed are as follows:
- S.I. No. 171/2009 Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments To Registered Dentists) Regulations 2009
- S.I. No. 172/2009 Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments To Consultant Psychiatrists) Regulations 2009
- S.I. No. 173/2009 Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments In Respect of Services Under the National Cervical Screening Programme) Regulations 2009
- S.I. No. 195/2009 Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments To Ophthalmologists, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians) Regulations 2009
- S.I. No. 246/2009 Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments To Community Pharmacy Contractors) Regulations 2009
- S.I. No. 262/2009 Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments To General Practitioners) Regulations 2009.
The professionals concerned are General Practitioners, Dentists, Pharmacists, Ophthalmologists, Optometrists and Dispening Opticians who hold contracts with the HSE, Smeartakers contracted under the CervicalCheck programme and Consultant Psychiatrists who hold contracts with the Mental Health Commission.
The Minister has determined that a consultation process shall commence on Thursday 20th May 2010 and shall be completed by Thursday 17th June 2010.
The Minister invites interested parties to provide written submissions to assist in her deliberations on these matters.
The following should be noted in relation to submissions
- Submissions should be sent by e mail to the Department of Health and Children at FEMPIReview@health.gov.ie or by post to FEMPI Review, Department of Health and Children, Room 531, Hawkins House, Dublin 2 to arrive not later than 5.30pm on Thursday 3rd June 2010,
- 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.
