David Cullinane
Question:386. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of reducing the drug payment scheme threshold to €5, €10, €15, €20, €40, €60 and €80, in tabular form. [30396/24]
View answerWednesday, 10 July 2024
Questions (386)
Written answers
The Drug Payment Scheme (DPS) provides for the refund of the amount by which expenditure on approved prescribed medicines or medical and surgical appliances exceeds a named threshold in any calendar month. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland.
The DPS threshold was reduced twice in 2022:
• From €114 to €100 per month on 1 January 2022.
• From €100 to €80 per month on 1 March 2022.
Therefore, currently, under the DPS, no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines.
The cost of reducing the DPS is estimated as follows:
|
Threshold |
Cost |
|
€60 |
€41.2m |
|
€40 |
€95.1m |
|
€20 |
€161.6m |
|
€15 |
€180.3m |
|
€10 |
€199.7m |
|
€5 |
€219.9m |
These costings do not take account of changes in demographics, eligibility (e.g., changes in the number of medical card holders), or claimant behaviour arising from the DPS reduction.