Irish Sunday Mirror

Privately-insured patients left on trolleys charged €813 for a night

HSE slammed over ‘unfair’ bill 10 times public cost

- BY LYNNE KELLEHER

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

 ??  ?? CONCERN Stephen Mcmahon
CONCERN Stephen Mcmahon
 ??  ?? BEDS CHAOS Patients on trolleys in Irish hospital
BEDS CHAOS Patients on trolleys in Irish hospital

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