Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Question:158 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the rate of the drug refund threshold at 1 June 1997 and 1 June 2002. [31958/04]
View answerThursday, 2 December 2004
Questions (161)
Written answers
Prior to 1 July 1999, people with an ongoing condition were able to avail of the drug cost subsidisation scheme which catered for people who were certified as having a medical condition with a regular and ongoing requirement for prescribed drugs and medicines. People who qualified for inclusion in this scheme did not have to pay more than £32 in any month on prescribed medication. Under the drug refund scheme, families and individuals paid the full cost of their prescription medicines and at the end of each quarter could claim reimbursement from their health board for expenditure over £90 in that calendar quarter. The threshold for these schemes did not change between June 1997 and July 1999.
With effect from 1 July 1999, the drug payment scheme replaced the drug cost subsidisation scheme and the drug refund scheme with a monthly threshold of £42, €53.33. Under this scheme, no individual or family paid more than £42 per month for approved prescribed drugs and medicines for use in that month. The threshold for this scheme did not change between July 1999 and June 2002.