Vol. 509 No. 1
192 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will consider modifications to the new drugs repayment scheme to take account of the special needs of elderly people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19486/99]
The drug cost subsidisation and drug refund schemes were merged into one new drug payment scheme with a threshold of £42 per month per individual or family unit on 1 July 1999. The primary aim of the new drug payment scheme is to bring about important improvements in the existing schemes. The new scheme effectively merges the best elements of the two existing schemes and is designed to be more streamlined, user friendly and significantly improves the cash flow situation for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines.
A common list of reimbursable medicines was introduced for the GMS scheme and the new drug payment scheme to ensure equity in relation to the range of medicines paid for by the State under both schemes. The common list provides a comprehensive range of the most modern therapies to meet the needs of patients and is subject to ongoing review and is updated on a monthly basis. Dressings and incontinence products are available on a supplementary list basis to cater for the special needs of older people.
The Deputy will also wish to know that the Government decided that the income guidelines for entitlement to medical cards for persons aged 70 years or over should be doubled. This improvement which is being introduced over a three year period began on 1 March 1999. The income guidelines for persons aged 70 to 79 and persons aged 80 years and over which are already higher than the normal guidelines have increased by one third and there will be similar increases in 2000 and 2001.
