The Law and Policy of Healthcare Financing
An International Comparison of Models and Outcomes
Edited by Wolf Sauter, Jos Boertjens, Johan van Manen and Misja Mikkers
Abstract
The Irish healthcare system is a tax payer system providing access to hospital services free of charge. However means tested charges may apply resulting in 30 per cent of the population having free access. All public hospitals – 48 in total, organized into seven different groups – are principally funded by the state. Since 2016, the traditional block grant – based payments has been partially replaced by activity-based funding. Payment in the private sector is exclusively by way of ‘fee-per-item’. Hospital consultants are entitled to carry out private practice in the public hospital up to a limit of 20–30 per cent of their total work. Around 46 per cent of the population have private health insurance, facilitating earlier access to services. Current proposals for systemic reforms aim to reduce access inequalities and envisage a shift from hospital-centric to primary and social care settings.
You are not authenticated to view the full text of this chapter or article.
Elgaronline requires a subscription or purchase to access the full text of books or journals. Please login through your library system or with your personal username and password on the homepage.
Non-subscribers can freely search the site, view abstracts/ extracts and download selected front matter and introductory chapters for personal use.
Your library may not have purchased all subject areas. If you are authenticated and think you should have access to this title, please contact your librarian.