Minister tells GPs they cannot charge medical card holders for blood tests

Minister of State at the Department of Health Kathleen Lynch has warned GPs they are not entitled to charge medical card patients for blood tests under their Health Service Executive contracts.

She was responding to Sinn Féin health spokesman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, who said GPs were illegally charging for blood tests.

He highlighted a notice posted up in a GP practice in Limerick that stated: “From January 1st, 2016, it will be necessary to charge all patients who have medical cards a fee of €15 for blood tests.”

Mr Ó Caoláin said the 1970 Health Act stated that a GP “may not charge the patient if the patient is eligible for free general medical services, including in the event that a patient needs bloods to be taken to either assist in the process of diagnosis or monitor a diagnosed condition”.

Ms Lynch said most GPs provided free phlebotomy services to medical card and GP visit-card patients, but she was aware some doctors had charged such patients for these services.

“It is not acceptable for patients in these categories to be subject to a charge for procedures associated with routine diagnosis and treatment,” she said.

The HSE had written a number of times to contractors, most recently in March last year, clarifying the position on phlebotomy services and she said all written complaints about GPs charging for such services had been investigated.

Ms Lynch said that “in any case where a patient has been charged by his or her GP for phlebotomy services, “the HSE, where appropriate will arrange for a refund of the amount concerned”.

The Minister acknowledged there was a need for a new contract with GPs.

She said the appropriate arrangements for phlebotomy services including dealing with "differences of interpretation" would be considered in discussions with the Irish Medical Organisation. She stressed the contract GPs had was as Mr Ó Caoláin outlined and "the HSE has and will continue to take action where medical card or GP visit card patients are charged inappropriately".

Mr Ó Caoláin said it was an immoral charge “as it is a case of taking money from the least well off, who qualify for a medical card, while being paid directly by the State for the provision of all their GP care”.