In common with other voluntary sector groups providing services for people with physical and sensory disabilities, requisite action arising in the context of the post polio support group is based on the recommendations of the report of the review group on health and personal social services for people with physical and sensory disabilities. As recommended in the report, co-ordinating committees have been established in each of the health boards.
Health boards, in consultation with their local co-ordinating committee, decide priorities for allocating the additional moneys made available by the Government for the development of services for people with physical and sensory disabilities. This year additional funding totalling £3 million – £6 million full year cost in the year 2000 – has been provided for the development of services for people with physical and sensory disabilities.
There are 15 specified illnesses covered under the long-term illness scheme and the scheme has not been extended since 1975 having regard to the fact that the needs of individuals with significant or ongoing medical expenses are met by a range of other schemes which provide assistance towards the cost of prescribed drugs and medicines.
At present, persons suffering from an ongoing medical condition can avail of the drug cost subsidisation scheme, which caters for people who do not have a medical card or a long-term illness book and are certified as having a medical condition with a regular and ongoing requirement for prescribed drugs and medicines. Persons who qualify for inclusion in this scheme do not have to pay more than £32 in any month on prescribed medication.
Under the drug refund scheme, families and individuals pay the full cost of their prescription medicines and may, at the end of the quarter, claim reimbursement from their health board of expenditure over £90 in that calendar quarter.
The new drug payment scheme will replace the drug cost subsidisation scheme and the drug refund scheme with effect from 1 July 1999, with a monthly threshold of £42. The new scheme will effectively merge the best elements of the two existing schemes and is designed to significantly improve the cash flow situations for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines.