Update on Public Consultation: Scope for Private Health Insurance to incorporate Additional Primary Care Services

11.6.2015 On 22nd December 2014, the Department of Health commenced a public consultation on the scope for private health insurance to incorporate additional primary care services. The aim of the consultation was to examine the scope for private health insurers to cover a fuller range of services provided in primary care settings, with a view to creating incentives for a transfer of appropriate services from acute to primary care settings and to encourage the most effective use of resources. The original consultation discussion document set out the general background and some structured questions to help interested parties focus their submissions and is available here. A total of 31 submissions were received as part of the consultation, including from private health insurers, General Practitioner representative and training organisations, pharmacy and private hospital representatives, employers and other interested parties. A copy of all of the submissions received is now available below. Follow-up meetings with interested parties took place during March this year and the Department has considered all of the views submitted as part of the consultation process, with a view to identifying the capacity that exists for an appropriate expansion of services. An analysis document, which summarises the key themes arising from the consultation is now available here, together with a conclusion of the consultation process available here