List plan for GPs shelved over fee rise fears

Government proposals to make doctors in general practice, dentists and other healthcare professions display price lists of charges in their practices have been delayed amid fears that it could lead to the introduction of new billing practices and higher fees for patients.

Last year, the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, as the then minister for enterprise and employment, said she intended signing an order requiring GPs and dentists to set out their consultation charges publicly. The proposal never went ahead.

Last month, the Tánaiste's successor as Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Mr Martin, said he had received a preliminary report from the Office of the Attorney General on the issue but that he was waiting for a final legal opinion before deciding how to proceed.

Informed sources have told The Irish Times that the delay in proceeding with the plan was caused by fears at Government level that a requirement for price displays could lead doctors and dentists to introduce itemised billing or a charging system based on the length of the consultation.

Informed sources said there were fears at Government level that itemised billing for various procedures or time-related charges could increase costs for patients.

The president of the Irish Medical Organisation, Dr James Reilly, said last night that the introduction of a requirement for price displays "could make many doctors think about how much and for what they charge".

Dr Reilly told The Irish Times that a number of GPs already charged for additional services such as blood or cardiac tests provided on top of a general consultation.

"General practice is much more sophisticated and has much more to offer than 20 years ago," he said. "Doctors are now carrying out many more procedures in their practices than they were in the past and the fees reflect the skill levels and training required."

GP fees for private patients are unregulated.

There has been strong criticism, however, of price increases in this area in recent times from leading politicians, including the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell.

However, doctors have claimed that about 50 per cent of fees charged are taken up by practice expenses.

General practices have also become more sophisticated with a growing number offering other forms of associated healthcare services.

Traditionally, the Department of Health maintained that private practice fees were a matter exclusively between the doctor and the patient and that the State had no role in the issue.

However, last year the first Government survey of private practice charges indicated that the average private consultation fee around the Republic was about €38.

However, this was very much the average and GP leaders accepted that charges in parts of Dublin would be significantly higher.