Vol. 553 No. 2
464 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to include Crohn's disease on the list of long-term illnesses for the purpose of medical card application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13088/02]
Persons suffering from any of the following conditions, who are not already medical card holders, may obtain without charge, drugs and medicines for the treatment of that condition under the long-term illness scheme: mental handicap, mental illness, for persons under 16 years only, phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, haemophilia, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophies, parkinsonism and acute leukaemia. There are no plans to amend the long-term illness scheme to include persons with Crohn's disease.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. Eligibility for a medical card is solely a matter for the chief executive officer of the relevant health board to decide. In determining eligibility, the chief executive officer has regard to the applicant's financial circumstances. Health boards use income guidelines to assist in determining eligibility. However, where a person's income exceeds the guidelines, a medical card may be awarded if the chief executive officer considers that the person's medical needs or other circumstances would justify this. Medical cards may also be issued to individual family members on this basis.
Non-medical card holders, and people with conditions not covered under the long-term illness scheme, can use the drugs payment scheme. Under this scheme, no individual or family unit pays more than €53.33 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines.
465 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health and Children the difference in payments made to general practitioners for medical card holders under and over 70 years of age; and the reasons for this disparity. [13089/02]
The rate of capitation paid to general practitioners participating in the general medical services scheme is determined by reference to the age, sex, and distance from their surgery, of each patient on their panel. These rates were agreed following industrial relations negotiations between the Department of Health and Children and the Irish Medical Organisation. I am arranging for a copy of the document detailing the fees and allowances payable to general practitioners under the capitation agreement to be sent to the Deputy.
