NEW SYSTEM TO CLAW BACK GALWAY HOSPITAL INSURANCE FUNDS

Date Published: 15-Feb-2012

A new system to claw back more private health insurance funds owed to public hospitals including Galway is to be implemented in the coming months.

The current system at St. James hospital in Dublin which has a 93 percent collection rate of outstanding insurance fees, is to be rolled out across all public hospitals.

Almost 15 million euro was owed to Galway University Hospitals at the end of December, 6 million euro of which is one year old.

HSE West regional forum chairman Councillor Padraig Conneely says the amount outstanding at GUH is detrimental to an already diminished budget.

Speaking in the Seanad last evening, Minister James Reilly warned that hospitals must start towing the line on collecting private insurance claims.