Privately-insured patients left on trolleys charged €813 for a night
HSE slammed over ‘unfair’ bill 10 times public cost
THE HSE has been criticised for billing patients with private health insurance left on hospital trolleys an “inappropriate” €813 a night.
They can be charged for more than 10 times the cost of a bed for a public patient when they sign a waiver form.
One firm confirmed yesterday private patients on trolleys are billed at a semi-private room rate.
A statement said: “Laya Healthcare is charging the multi-occupancy rate of €813 for privately-insured patients admitted to public hospitals, even if the patient stays on a trolley.
“There are two different accommodation charges – the price of a multi-occupancy room is €813 per night and this cost is incurred even when private patients stay on a trolley for the duration of their stay.
“If our member is accommodated in a private room (single occupancy), the price is €1,000 per night.”
Stephen Mcmahon from Irish Patients’ Association expressed concern at the practice of billing semi-private room rates to patients on trolleys.
He said: “It would seem an unfair and inappropriate charge.
“There has to be a sense of morality about bills. If somebody is not in bed on the ward then they can’t be charged for it.
“It’s like going to a holiday apartment in Spain back in the 1950s when they hadn’t even finished building the room and billing you for the holiday.” Laya Healthcare’s statement told how privately-insured patients should be aware of their entitlements.
It said: “In January 2014, the Government introduced new legislation for privately-insured patients admitted to public hospitals through A&E.
“It resulted in those with health insurance being asked to waive their right to be treated as a public patient and charged up to 10 times the cost of a hospital bed, often regardless of whether they are given private facilities or get a choice of consultant.
“Every Irish citizen is entitled to be treated in our public hospitals as a public patient at a maximum charge of €80 per night (up to a maximum charge of €800 in any 12-month period), a cost that will be fully-covered by your health insurance.
“It’s important customers make an informed decision on this matter.
“When waiving their right to be a public patient, they should ask what additional services they are going to receive as a private patient.
“If they choose not to sign, they can be reassured their insurer will still cover their costs.”
Irish Life Health also confirmed if their patients sign a waiver form they are charged the rate of €813 a night regardless of whether they are on a trolley in a ward or a semi-private room. The HSE said in a statement its Hospital In-patient Enquiry system does not record the breakdown of trolleys used for accommodation purposes as opposed to beds. It added: “The HSE does not charge for trolleys in a corridor. “Some hospitals may record trolleys in HIPE, as in a virtual ward, but these are not included as an inpatient until they are on a ward.
“If a patient is accommodated on a trolley in a private or multi-occupancy setting then they are charged the appropriate rate.”
The HSE did not expand on whether a ward corridor was classed as a private or multi-occupancy setting. It confirmed charges per night for “patients who opt for private in-patient services” in HSE hospitals range from €800 to €1,000 for single-occupancy rooms and €659 to €813 for multi-occupancy. Meanwhile, the Vhi said in a statement it “would not pay” the multi-occupancy rate for a room for patients who stay on trolleys. It added: “Vhi have a Memorandum Of Understanding in place with public hospitals and have details of all beds.” news@irishmirror.ie
There has to be a sense of morality about charges, if someone is not in a bed it’s unfair
STEPHEN MCMAHON
DUBLIN YESTERDAY