Vol. 494 No. 5
96 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Western Health Board is correct in its interpretation of the rules of the drugs cost subsidisation scheme where drugs on prescription were purchased by a person (details supplied) in County Galway on 30 June 1998 and were presented for inclusion for the April to June period on that day but were deemed ineligible to be included for that period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18914/98]
I have had inquiries made of the Western Health Board and I understand that the person concerned applied for a refund under the drugs refund scheme and not the drug cost subsidisation scheme as stated. Under the drugs refund scheme, persons whose expenditure on prescribed drugs and medicines for use in a specified three month period, commencing on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July or 1 October exceeds £90 are eligible to claim a refund of their expenditure in excess of that amount. This includes expenditure in respect of dependants.
The Western Health Board has indicated that the application concerned included a receipt for £72.27 in respect of prescribed medicines purchased on 30 June 1998 and as this medication was deemed for use in the following calendar quarter, no refund was made. The person concerned was advised that this outstanding expenditure will be reckonable as expenditure for the July-September quarter.
