Revenue shortfalls on private patients

ST JAMES’ Hospital, named as one of the worst offenders failing to collect revenue owed by privately-insured patients, last night said it hoped to collect the money this year.

Yesterday, a RTÉ Radio One report said that more than €76 million had gone uncollected from private health insurers in the past four years. According to figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, 50 hospitals throughout the State are suffering a shortfall of €19m a year. St James’ and Tallaght Hospital were the worst offenders.

However, in a statement last night, St James said, due to capacity, it inevitably had to collect more revenue.