Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 July 2024
475. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of reducing the maximum payment on the drug payment scheme to €40; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28830/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines.
The estimated full year cost for reducing the DPS threshold to €40 is €95m.
This costing does not take account of changes in demographics or in eligibility numbers (i.e., changes in the number of medical card holders). It also does not take account of how a reduction in the DPS threshold may impact on claimant behaviour.
