HSE to refund thousands of wrongly charged patients
The Health Service Executive has reportedly promised to refund thousands of patients undergoing treatment for strokes and fractures who were charged for hospital care despite having medical cards.
Reports this morning said the HSE had confirmed that an estimated 6,000 medical card holders receiving treatment in acute rehabilitation units throughout the country were charged a maintenance fee.
Most of those affected were reportedly over the age of 65 and receiving rehabilitation in geriatric wards.
This morning’s reports said the HSE had stopped the practice and was planning to refund all the charges levied on medical card holders.
The reports also said that a leading geriatrician had questioned the HSE’s estimate of those affected by the charges and had signalled that the real number could be as high as 7,000 in each health board area.
