The introduction of the "Fair Deal" nursing home scheme, where older people going into care can defer payment until after their death, is to be delayed.
The Irish Times understands the necessary arrangements needed to begin operating the scheme, promised by Minister for Health Mary Harney, will not be in place by January 1st as originally promised.
Ms Harney announced the plan in December 2006. Under the scheme, people going into nursing homes will be able to defer payment for their care until after their death, when the State will collect up to 15 per cent of the value of the person's home.
Whether going into public or private homes, each person will have to undergo a medical assessment to see if they require nursing-home care. Only those with high dependency needs will be eligible for the scheme. They will also be means-tested.
The scheme is to be run by the HSE, with help from the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). Legislation will be required to introduce the scheme, after which regulations and systems will be put in place to operate it. However, the necessary legislation has not yet been brought before the Dáil.
It was also expected that the authority would be given powers to approve nursing homes for the scheme. However, it is unlikely that regulations to enable this will be introduced before the end of the year.
A unit was also to be established within the NTPF to negotiate prices of nursing-home beds for those qualifying for the scheme in advance of start-up on January 1st. It is understood that the fund will advertise for expressions of interest from nursing homes in the coming weeks. But the extra posts required by the organisation to operate the scheme have not yet been filled.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health has denied there will be delays. "The legislation is in preparation and all requirements are being worked on," she said. "We are satisfied that the necessary arrangements will be in place by January 1st."
A spokesman for the NTPF said its remit is to negotiate prices with nursing homes on behalf of the State, which will support the overall responsibility of the HSE and HIQA in the delivery of "Fair Deal".
