Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 155: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will amend the terms of the long-term illness and disability scheme to include growth hormone deficiency. [14026/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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There are currently no plans to amend the list of eligible conditions for the long-term illness scheme, LTI. Under the 1970 Health Act, the Health Service Executive may arrange for the supply, without charge, of drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances to people with a specified condition, for the treatment of that condition through the long-term illness scheme. The conditions are: mental handicap; mental illness, for people under 16 only; phenylketonuria; cystic fibrosis; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; diabetes mellitus; diabetes insipidus; haemophilia; cerebral palsy; epilepsy; multiple sclerosis; muscular dystrophies; Parkinsonism; conditions arising from thalidomide; and acute leukaemia. Parkinsonism, acute leukaemia, muscular dystrophies and multiple sclerosis were added to the scheme in 1975. The LTI does not cover GP fees or hospital co-payments.

Other schemes provide assistance towards the cost of approved drugs and medicines for people with significant ongoing medical expenses. People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. Eligibility for a medical card is solely a matter for the chief officer of the relevant Health Service Executive area. In determining eligibility, the chief officer has regard to the applicant's financial circumstances. Income guidelines are used to assist in determining eligibility. However, where a person's income exceeds the guidelines, a medical card may be awarded if the chief officer considers that the person's medical needs or other circumstances would justify this. Medical cards may also be issued to individual family members on this basis.

Non-medical card holders, and people with conditions not covered under the LTI, can use the drugs payment scheme. Under this scheme, no individual or family unit pays more than €85 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines.