Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2012
599. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will outline in detail the way it is intended to make a saving of €32 million in 2013 from other changes to primary care schemes as detailed in item C of his Department's section of the summary of measures in the Budget Expenditure Report 2013 with a breakdown of the intended saving for each measure under this heading [56283/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraDue to the very difficult and challenging economic environment the Government has committed to achieving additional savings in health expenditure during 2013 and 2014 with €781m savings targeted in 2013. The Government is committed to achieving these savings while protecting front line services to the most vulnerable to the greatest extent possible. Reductions in the cost of Primary Care Schemes will contribute €323m towards this overall savings target, as set out in the following table:
Primary Care Reimbursement Service
|
Primary Care Scheme |
Savings Target |
|
IPHA/APMI Agreement on Drug Price Reductions |
€120 million |
|
Quality Prescribing Initiative |
€20 million |
|
Reduce price of oral nutritional supplements |
€5 million |
|
Reduce fees payable to health professionals |
€70 million |
|
Increase prescription charges |
€51 million |
|
Delisting products from GMS scheme |
€15 million |
|
Changes in means test for medical cards |
€20 million |
|
Replace medical cards with GP visit cards for persons over 70 with high incomes |
€12 million |
|
Increase DPS threshold |
€10 million |
|
Total Primary Care Schemes |
€323 million |
