The HSE has denied that it requires medical card holders to provide proof of their life-long conditions when their medical card falls due for renewal and has indicated that medical card holders are 'misconstruing' its queries.

This follows reports that in some cases, when the HSE is looking at medical card applications and renewals, it has asked people with serious life-long conditions whether they still have these conditions.

One mother recently said she was asked by the HSE if her son still had Down's Syndrome.

The HSE, in a statement, said it does not require medical card applicants to provide proof of life-long conditions when a medical card falls due for renewal.

"Applicants are required to provide information about any change in their medical circumstances; this is a necessary and reasonable part of the medical card renewal process, to assist a person in establishing eligibility."

The HSE said requests for up to date medical information from applicants 'appears to be being misconstrued'.

It said following recent reports about what applicants were being asked about their illnesses, the HSE has reviewed its written correspondence and telephone recordings 'and is satisfied that where medical information was sought from applicants it was done so appropriately and within the parameters of the medical card scheme'.

It said the procedure for a medical card renewal, where a person is over the income threshold and discretion is being applied, requires an updated medical report to be provided.

"This is not to confirm that an individual continues to have a life-long condition, rather it is designed to provide an update on medical treatment underway, which may result in costs for the family."

Reviews of medical cards are carried out in good faith, the HSE said, and any information sought in relation to up to date medical circumstances are intended 'only to capture all relevant information that may give rise to undue financial hardship; including the cost of ongoing medical care'.

The medical card scheme is based on the Health Act 1970 which provides for medical cards on the basis of financial means.

"The HSE must operate within the legal parameters of the scheme and within these every effort is made to ensure that the system responds to the variety of circumstances and complexities faced by individuals who apply for a medical card."

It said during 2013, medical card reviews 644,858 reviews were conducted. At the end of February 2014, the assessment of eligibility had been concluded in relation to 482,866 cardholders, 96.4% of whom continued to hold eligibility following the review.

Currently, over 1.9 million people hold a medical card or GP visit card.

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