IMO warns on blood test fees

MORE medical card patients will be charged for routine blood tests as an increasing number of GPs struggle to keep their clinics open, the Irish Medical Organisation has warned.

According to the IMO, routine blood tests are not covered by the General Medical Services (GMS) contract — the agreement between the state and GPs.

Last month, Health Minister James Reilly said blood tests should be provided free of charge to medical and GP visit card holders if they form part of the investigation and necessary treatment of patients’ symptoms or conditions.

Age Action Ireland, which highlighted the issue, said a number of GPs were charging medical card patients up to €20 for a blood test, causing financial hardship for some patients.

The older people’s charity urged the Health Service Executive to remind GPs of the terms of their contract.

Incoming president of the IMO, Dr Ronan Boland, said the IMO had not given any guidance to GPs on the issue but sought to clarify what was in the GMS contract. He said the minister’s statement was “cleverly worded” to convey that the situation was clear-cut, when it was not.

Speaking at a press conference in Dublin, Dr Boland said the contract was written in 1989 and was “as clear as mud” on the issue.

“In the view of the IMO, the blood testing done in the course of the diagnosis and treatment of a patient is covered but testing that is required by third parties or which is patient generated, is clearly not covered by the contract,” he said.

“If, for example, hospitals want patients to have a whole lot of blood tests done on a regular basis, there is no contractual responsibility on the GP to provide that service on behalf of the hospital.”

Dr Boland said he would be surprised if the practice of charging GMS patients for blood tests did not become more widespread in the coming months because of a series of income cuts.

“Whether we like it or not, we have to operate as a small business,” he said.

Meanwhile, the IMO has called for greater scrutiny of the medical history of people seeking gun licences.