THE GOVERNMENT is to reduce by 7½ per cent the fees paid to general practitioners for administering a range of immunisations for children.
The order, signed by Minister for Health James Reilly and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin, also provides for reductions in payments made in relation to a number of other vaccines.
The cuts were made under the provisions of financial emergency legislation and followed a consultation process.
The new rates, which came into effect earlier this week, include a revised range of fees for doctors administering immunisations such as the six-in-one programme against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, haemophillus influenza type B, poliomyelitis and hepatitis B, as well as the meningococcal C and MMR vaccines to children registered and unregistered with the practice.
In addition to the cuts in the fees applying to the childhood immunisation programme, lower rates have also been introduced in respect of other vaccination schemes.
Under the measures, the fee for administering the seasonal flu vaccine has been cut from €42 to €28.50.
The new fee for administering the pneumoccal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) has also been set at €28.50.
The fee to be paid to GPs for administering the combined seasonal flu and PPV vaccine has been set at €42.75.
The Department of Health told the HSE earlier this week that the new rates were to come into effect from November 3rd. Under the financial emergency legislation, GPs can withdraw their services, after giving 30 days’ notice, if they are unhappy with the new fees set out by the Government.
The new cuts are the latest in a series of reductions in fees introduced by the Department of Health for general practitioners over the last year or so.
The Irish Medical Organisation has contended that GPs had been targeted for more cuts than other professional grades.
