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40
WQ.40/2020
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 21st JANUARY 2020
Question
Further to the response to Written Question 546/2019, will the Minister –
- advise what methods he has under consideration to assess the affordability of the current patient contribution to G.P. services for those in financial need; state whether means-testing is being considered and, if so, what form it will take; and indicate what consideration, if any, he has given to using an existing assessment, such as that used for Income Support or for Income Tax thresholds; and
- state what consideration he has given to including in the new care model, in relation to those in medical and social need of affordable primary care, people on Long-Term and Short-Term Incapacity Allowance or who qualify for Impairment components under Income Support?
Answer
- As part of our Government Plan commitment to develop a model that improves access to primary care for financially vulnerable people, options are being scoped to identify the financially vulnerable and I anticipate that the merits (or otherwise) of means testing would be considered as part of this.
- Work will be undertaken to identify and prioritise the vulnerable groups in most need of affordable access to primary care and I am confident that people who qualify for the Impairment component will be considered.