The introduction of medical cards for everybody over 70 by July 1st remained in doubt yesterday, writes Padraig O'Morain. Talks this week on how doctors are to be paid have failed to persuade the Irish Medical Organisation to go along with the scheme.
Meanwhile GPs are refusing requests from patients over-70 to sign forms saying they will accept them as medical card patients.
The chairman of the IMO's GP committee, Dr James Reilly, yesterday said that it would be "extremely difficult" to introduce the change by July 1st even if agreement was reached. The provision of medical cards to everyone over 70 without a means test was promised in the Budget.
The IMO wants the State to pay doctors a separate fee each time they treat one of the new patients. The idea of a "fee-per-item" payment has been firmly rejected by the Health Service Employers' Agency.