Vol. 545 No. 2
123 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the euro values which will apply in 2002 to the drugs refund threshold; the euro value which will apply in 2002 to the nursing home subvention guideline payment at different levels of dependency; the euro value which will apply in 2002 to the savings disregard; and to the enhanced subvention rate in cases of hardship. [30222/01]
The current threshold for the drugs payment scheme is £42 per month or 53.33 per month.
The Nursing Homes (Subvention) Regulations, 1993, are administered by the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority. There are currently three maximum rates of subvention payable, £90-114.28, £120-152.37, £150-190.46, in accordance with the three levels of dependency of medium, high and maximum which are eligible for subvention.
As the Deputy is aware, under Article 9 of the Second Schedule to the Nursing Home (Subvention) Regulations, 1993, a health board shall disregard the first £6,000 or 7,618.43 of any asset or assets owned or enjoyed by the applicant.
A health board may pay more than the maximum rate of subvention relative to an individual's level of dependency, for example in cases where personal funds are exhausted. Articles 22.3 and 22.4 of the Nursing Home (Subvention) Regulations, 1993, permit health boards to contract beds in private nursing homes and to pay more than the maximum rates of subvention in such cases. The regulations do not specify a maximum rate to be paid under this provision.
