New Prescription Levy Comes Into Effect

Friday, 01 October 2010 10:17

Written by Conor Joyce

A new Government levy of 50c per item dispensed by pharmacists to people with Medical Cards comes into effect from today, Friday October 1.

The charges are capped at a maximum of €10 for individuals or families per month.

Community pharmacists contracted under the Medical Card Scheme must now charge the 50c levy to all eligible medical cardholders for medicines or medical appliances prescribed to them under the Medical Card Scheme. The charge, which was announced in Budget 2010, applies to all items prescribed to the patient.

If you have a medical card, this means that when you take your prescription to the pharmacist, you will be charged 50c for each item of medicine you receive. This 50c will contribute toward the cost of your medicines, and the HSE will continue to pay the rest of the cost.

Individuals or families who pay more than €10 in a month, e.g. where the members of the family use more than one pharmacy, will be refunded automatically by the HSE on the basis of the data provided to the HSE by pharmacists. Families can also apply to the HSE for a refund on www.medicalcard.ie or can pick up a claim form at Local Health Offices if they consider that they have not received the refund that was due to them.

There are a limited number of exemptions from the prescription charges:
1.        High Tech Products. As the supply of High Tech Medicines operates on the basis of a patient care fee, a prescription charge will not apply.
2.        Children who are in the care of the Health Service Executive under the Child Care Acts 1991 to 2007.
3.        The supply of Methadone to Opiate Dependent Clients. Methadone clients will be required to pay the charge on prescription items other than Methadone. The supply of Methadone for non opiate dependent clients is not exempted.

An information leaflet on how the scheme operates is being widely circulated through pharmacies and Local Health Offices and more information on the scheme is also available at www.hse.ie/go/50c and www.medicalcard.ie or by calling 1890 252 919.