Doctors are accusing the Department of Health of lying to the public about the medical card system.
The Irish Medical Organisation says the department's suggestion that GPs are claiming fees for medical card holders who are dead is "propaganda".
The IMO says the department is using spin to distract attention from its own mismanagement of the medical card system.
It says doctors notify the HSE when a medical card patient passes away, and points out that the HSE is responsible for the maintenance of the national register of deaths.
The IMO described it as "extraordinary" that the department would suggest that GPs know more about this issue than it does.
According to the IMO, doctors have previously agreed that any payments received in respect of a patient who has passed away are refunded to the HSE.
