Play
Stop
Nine News: Fergal Bowers, Health Correspondent, reports on implications of the move to cut GP fees for treating the over 70s
Play
Stop
Morning Ireland: Fergal Bowers, Health Correspondent, reports that the Cabinet is to consider a report on the fee to be paid to GPs for medical card holders over 70
The recommendation was made in a report from former Secretary General of Public Service Management Development Eddie Sullivan and follows Budget changes to end the automatic entitlement to a card, from 1 January.
Currently GPs are paid a fee of €640 for people over 70 years who have received a medical card automatically on age grounds.
The Department of Health says the revised fee will generate savings of about €16m next year.
The Irish Medical Organisation is expected to consider the recommendation at a meeting tomorrow and may decide to ballot its 2,200 GP members on the issue.
