Budget 2017: Health budget concessions will require change to legislation

Two headline concessions announced as part of the health budget will require legislative change before they can be introduced — provision of a medical card to the 10,000 children who qualify for the domiciliary care allowance (DCA) and reductions in prescription charges for the over 70s.

Health Minister Simon Harris told a press briefing last night the legislation in relation to medical cards was being “prepared as we speak”, and that he hoped to “get it moving before Christmas”.

He said Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohue had committed to implementing the prescription charge reductions from March 1. The reductions will lower the current monthly prescription charge cap from €25 to €20 and the fee-per-item from €2.50 to €2 for 330,000 medical holders aged over 70.