Medical Card History

Potency

If a child/teen uses their medical card for services/medication, is there a history kept that may be accessible by their parents? Or would it be possible to keep this history private? (probably unlikely I know)

locum-motion

The doctor keeps records of what they prescribe, the pharmacy keeps records of what they dispense, and the HSE's Primary Care Reimbursement Service keeps a record of what they pay for.

As to whether a parent can access those records; I can only speak for the pharmacy end of it. People sometimes ask for a copy of their own records, for example if they need to see a different-than-usual doctor and want to show them which drugs they're on. The pharmacy would usually comply with such a request. Also, under the Data Protection Act, any person has the right to apply to any Data Controller (a person who holds any computerised personal data) for a copy of the data held about themselves for the purposes of ensuring the data is correct. However, a pharmacy is permitted to withhold any data if it might be detrimental to the applicant's health to know that information (an unlikely scenario, admittedly). As to whether a person can make such an application about their minor dependant rather than about themselves, I'm not sure, and if the situation ever arose I'd need to check carefully what the legal position was before releasing any information.

I'm fairly sure that the PCRS would not release any information about any individually identifiable person. When they release information, it tends to be in the form of statistics.

Reading between the lines, I'm wondering if the OP might be a teenager who wants to use some medication that they feel may be embarrasing or that their parents may disapprove of, such as the Oral Contraceptive. I would recommend talking to a GP, who would probably have a better idea than I of the correct answer to these questions.

Potency

locum-motion wrote: »

The doctor keeps records of what they prescribe, the pharmacy keeps records of what they dispense, and the HSE's Primary Care Reimbursement Service keeps a record of what they pay for.

As to whether a parent can access those records; I can only speak for the pharmacy end of it. People sometimes ask for a copy of their own records, for example if they need to see a different-than-usual doctor and want to show them which drugs they're on. The pharmacy would usually comply with such a request. Also, under the Data Protection Act, any person has the right to apply to any Data Controller (a person who holds any computerised personal data) for a copy of the data held about themselves for the purposes of ensuring the data is correct. However, a pharmacy is permitted to withhold any data if it might be detrimental to the applicant's health to know that information (an unlikely scenario, admittedly). As to whether a person can make such an application about their minor dependant rather than about themselves, I'm not sure, and if the situation ever arose I'd need to check carefully what the legal position was before releasing any information.

I'm fairly sure that the PCRS would not release any information about any individually identifiable person. When they release information, it tends to be in the form of statistics.

Reading between the lines, I'm wondering if the OP might be a teenager who wants to use some medication that they feel may be embarrasing or that their parents may disapprove of, such as the Oral Contraceptive. I would recommend talking to a GP, who would probably have a better idea than I of the correct answer to these questions.

Thanks for that. Useful information.
As for the last bit, you hit the nail on the head. Not for myself, but for her . We're planning a consultation, but the card will also need to be used for this.

I have another question now: The chances of parents trying to access the information are slim. Would there be anything sent in the post by the HSE to a parent or guardian regarding what the card has been used to pay for?

locum-motion

Potency wrote: »

I have another question now: The chances of parents trying to access the information are slim. Would there be anything sent in the post by the HSE to a parent or guardian regarding what the card has been used to pay for?

No, there wouldn't. It's not like a credit card where there's an itemised bill sent out each month.

ceegee

the only time i've come across problems similiar to this is with the dps scheme, where a parent comes in for their rx and begins asking questions about why they're not being charged the full 120 for the month. This obviously wouldn't apply to medical card patients.