Mattsson Molly, Flood Michelle, Wallace Emma, Boland Fiona, Moriarty Frank
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
HRB Open Res. 2023 Oct 18;5:67. doi: 10.12688/hrbopenres.13622.1. eCollection 2022.
In Ireland, the means tested General Medical Services (GMS) scheme provides access to a range of healthcare services at no or low cost to approximately one third of the population. Individuals eligible for the GMS scheme are often a focus of research, as a population that account for a large proportion of healthcare services use. The aim of this study is to describe the eligibility rates and representativeness of the GMS scheme population over time, with respect to age group, sex, and geographical area in Ireland.
Population data was obtained from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), using 2016 Census figures and projected population figures for 2017-2021. GMS eligibility figures for 2016-2021 were obtained from the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS). GMS eligibility rates and relative rates of eligibility were calculated for 2016-2021 by age group and sex. Additionally, 2016 eligibility rates were calculated by geographical area.
The crude eligibility rate decreased from 36.4% in 2016 to 31.2% in 2020, with a slight increase to 31.6% in 2021. In the 75+ years age group, 78.2% of the total population were eligible for the GMS scheme in 2021. The age group with the lowest rate of eligible individuals was the 25-34 age group, with 19.5% eligible in 2021. The eligibility rate was higher among females compared to males throughout the study period. The highest eligibility rate was seen in Donegal, with a crude rate of 52.8%. Dublin had the lowest rate, with a crude rate of 29.3%.
GMS eligibility varies greatly depending on age, sex, and geographical area, and decreased between 2016 and 2021. This study uses the most up-to-date data available to provide age group, sex and area-based figures for GMS eligibility which may inform planning and conduct of research focusing on GMS-eligible individuals.
在爱尔兰，经过经济状况调查的综合医疗服务（GMS）计划为大约三分之一的人口提供了免费或低成本的一系列医疗服务。符合GMS计划资格的个人通常是研究的重点，因为这一人群占医疗服务使用的很大比例。本研究的目的是描述随着时间的推移，爱尔兰GMS计划人群在年龄组、性别和地理区域方面的资格率和代表性。
使用2016年人口普查数据以及2017 - 2021年的预计人口数据，从中央统计局（CSO）获取人口数据。2016 - 2021年的GMS资格数据来自健康服务执行局初级医疗报销服务处（PCRS）。按年龄组和性别计算了2016 - 2021年的GMS资格率和相对资格率。此外，还按地理区域计算了2016年的资格率。
粗资格率从2016年的36.4%降至2020年的31.2%，2021年略有上升至31.6%。在75岁及以上年龄组中，2021年总人口的78.2%有资格参加GMS计划。符合资格的个人比例最低的年龄组是25 - 34岁年龄组，2021年该组的符合资格率为19.5%。在整个研究期间，女性的资格率高于男性。多尼戈尔的资格率最高，粗率为52.8%。都柏林的资格率最低，粗率为29.3%。
GMS资格因年龄、性别和地理区域而异，并且在2016年至2021年期间有所下降。本研究使用了最新数据，提供了基于年龄组、性别和地区的GMS资格数据，这可能为针对符合GMS资格的个人的研究规划和开展提供参考。
