Minister tells Cork TD he is committed to increase fees for contractors providing eye exams

HEALTH Minister Stephen Donnelly has confirmed to Cork TD Colm Burke that he is committed to increasing the fees payable to contractors for a standard eye examination under the Community Ophthalmic Services Scheme (COSS).

In a recent parliamentary question in the Dáil, the Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central asked Mr Donnelly about the possibility of an increase in the fees payable to contractors for a standard eye examination under the current scheme.

Mr Donnelly replied that the Community Ophthalmic Services Scheme (COSS), which was first introduced in 1979, is a national fee-per-item scheme.

Currently under the COSS, medical card holders aged over 16 years can be seen by ophthalmologists, community ophthalmic physicians, optometrists, or dispensing opticians, while eligible patients can receive an eye examination and be provided with prescribed optical appliances in accordance with a national schedule of approved optical appliances.

Mr Donnelly outlined to Mr Burke that he is committed to increasing the fees payable.

“The Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Ophthalmologists, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians) Regulations 2013 sets the fees for optometrists and dispensing opticians,” he said.

“I am committed to increasing the fees payable to contractors for a standard eye examination under the COSS.

“This is a priority for my department. Work with stakeholders is ongoing to implement this change in 2023.”

Mr Burke said the costs involved have gone up since the prices were cut in 2013.

“The price was reduced in 2013,” he said. “The work was outsourced, and it was paid out.

“What they are getting for doing that work hasn’t changed in 10 years, while costs for everyone involved have gone up.

“I am looking for Minister Donnelly to have the appropriate funding provided for it.

“It is accepted that the appropriate fees are no longer being paid.

“We need to make sure that it is delivered.

“I am going to keep the pressure on, because I think it is extremely important that people can get access to services and that the people providing the services get adequate remuneration.

“Otherwise, they will drop out of the service.”