PATIENTS who give their VHI benefit to private hospitals will not be required to settle their own accounts at the time of discharge, the Independent Hospital Association of Ireland (IHAI) has said. Mr Michael Heavey, the association's chief executive, said the hospital would then recover the benefit from the VHI.
He said the IHAI was making the arrangements to minimise disruption to patients due to the dispute with the VHI.
Hospitals may "reluctantly" have to request patients to pay the 3.5 per cent increase in charges, i.e. £35 per £1,000, he said.
Mr Brian Duncan, VHI chief executive, said it had no alternative but to place the hospitals concerned on a "partially participating" basis from Thursday. "VHI regrets that this action is necessary," he said. He confirmed that cover would continue to be provided at the relevant private hospitals on the basis of charges applicable to the end of last year and that consultants' fees would not be affected.