The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button.
The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments.
1240/5(4594)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BY DEPUTY M.R. HIGGINS OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 16th JUNE 2009
Question
Would the Minister please advise:
- h o w many general practitioners are licensed in the Island under the Health Insurance Fund;
- th e numberof patient visits in 2008 for whichmoneywas paid to supplementthe cost ofmedicaladvice and assistance topatients;
- th e amountofmoney paid to general practitioners in 2008 by the Social Security Department in respectto these visits; and,
- w h ether his Department collates information from general practitioners ontheamount that each patient had to pay for doctors' consultations in 2008 (brokendown for consultations, costof injections etc) and, if so, will he provide a breakdown for members?
Answer
Under the Health Insurance (Jersey) Law 1967 (rather than the Health Insurance Fund), a medical benefit may be claimed by an insured person for any "proper and necessary" medical service provided by a GP. Such services include visits by a GP and letters of referral. The medical benefit arising is the property of the individual and the current level of benefit is £15 per consultation, irrespective of place/length of consultation or services provided.
- There are currently 96 approved doctors in active practicewho provide medical services under the Health Insurance Law. The Minister forSocialSecuritymay licence (or approve) a doctor to deliver medical services provided they satisfy the vocational GP qualifications setby the legislation (Health Insurance (Conditions For ApprovalOFMedical Practitioners) (Jersey)Regulations1993).
- The numberof patient visits in 2008 forwhichmoneywas paid to supplement the cost ofmedical advice and assistance topatientswasapproximately350,000.
- The amountofmedical benefit claimed forGP visits andservicesin 2008 wasapproximately £5.3 million.
- General medicalpractice in Jersey is a private enterprise and there isno contract betweenGPsand the States. GPconsultationand service fees are set by individual practices and governed bymarket forces. Patients are not required to register with a practice andmanyGPs discount within their fee structure dependingon the patient'scircumstances.Whilst the Departmentcollects information ongrossfees paid for a consultation, it does not collate information onthebreakdown of specific charges for GP services.