Kildare South and Labour Party TD Mark Wall has today called on the HSE to provide clarity medical card holds claiming refunds for being charged for blood tests.
Deputy Wall’s call comes following a response from a Parliamentary Question to the Minister for Health which showed that only six people from 2024 to 2025 were issued refunds. According to the HSE, routine blood tests in primary care are covered under the GMS contract, meaning that medical card patients should not be charged.
Deputy Wall:
“It is quite extraordinary that only six people in two years have been issued a refund for being charged for a blood test. In my constituency offices in Athy and Newbridge, this is coming up frequently and I know that there are many more people who are still being charged. These patients, most of whom are older, have no idea of how to go about getting a refund and are equally concerned at raising the issue given the serious lack of GPs taking on medical card patients.
“The reply I have received from the HSE clearly states that there is no provision under the GMS GP contract for a person who has a medical or a GP visit card to be charged for routine blood test.
“I am aware of cases where GPs are charging not for the blood tests, but for the transportation of the samples. That isn’t right either. The HSE and Minister for Health need to provide clarity to the situation urgently for patients, but also for GP practices which I know many are stretched to their limited too.”