Doctors call for medical card list review

DOCTORS have called for a review of the way lists of patients eligible for medical cards are maintained.

The call follows revelations that GPs have received excess payments worth over E6m for patients who have died or whose medical cards have lapsed.

The extent of the overpayments was only discovered two years ago when Department of Health officials became aware of the spiralling cost when free medical cards under the General Medical Services scheme were extended to everyone aged 70.