Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
946 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Health and Children if all persons with Down’s syndrome will be entitled to a medical card regardless of parental income following the publication of the Disability Bill 2004. [22598/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is fully committed to the extension of medical card coverage as set out in the health strategy. This will focus on people on low incomes and will give priority to families with children, particularly those with a disability. The timing of the introduction of the extension will be decided having regard to the prevailing budgetary position.
As a matter of course, the medical card income guidelines are revised annually by the health board chief executive officers in line with the consumer price index. The last such increase was notified in January 2004. Health board chief executive officers have discretion in the issuing of medical cards and a range of income sources can be excluded by the health boards when assessing medical card eligibility. Despite someone having an income that exceeds the guidelines, a medical card may still be awarded if the chief executive officer considers that a person's medical needs or other circumstances would justify this.
For those who do not qualify for a medical card, there are a number of schemes that provide assistance towards the cost of medication. Under the long-term illness scheme, persons suffering from a number of conditions can obtain the drugs and medicines required for the treatment of that condition free of charge. The conditions in question include intellectual disability such as Down's syndrome. Non-medical card holders and people with conditions not covered under the long-term illness scheme can avail of the drugs payment scheme. Under this scheme, no individual or family unit pays more than €78 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines.
The target in the lifetime of the Government is to further extend the medical card scheme to people on low incomes and to give priority to families with children, particularly those with a disability. The health strategy includes a series of initiatives to clarify and expand the existing arrangements for eligibility for health services, including recommendations arising from the review of the medical card scheme carried out by the health board CEOs under the PPF. These include: streamlining applications and improving the standardisation of the medical card applications process to ensure better fairness and transparency; providing clearer information to about how and where to apply for medical cards; proactively seeking out those who should have medical cards to ensure they have access to the services that are available.
In addition, my Department is committed to the preparation of new legislation to update and codify the legal framework for eligibility and entitlements in regard to health services.
