Beverley Flynn (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 220: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on including patients who have undergone illeostomy procedures in the long-term illness scheme. [10520/06]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 227: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on whether it is fair that a person suffering from Crohn's disease, who has to attend hospital regularly and who returns to work, will lose their medical card and hence be in a worse off financial position due to the fact that this disease, which can be long-term, is not recognised as such by the State; her views on whether this is unfair; when she will reform the long-term illness scheme to enable people suffering from unrecognised long-term illnesses to retain their much needed medical cards; and her further views on whether it should not be decided on name of disease but rather on the severity and expected duration of illness based on a doctor's examination. [10559/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 220 and 227 together.

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 scheme does not cover GP fees or hospital co-payments. 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. There are no plans to extend the list of eligible conditions.

Products necessary for the management of the specified illness are available to patients on the scheme. Other products are available according to the patient's eligibility. 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. In the assessment process the Health Service Executive can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family. The Deputy will be pleased to know that people in receipt of payments from the Department of Social and Family Affairs may retain the medical card for a specified period of time following return to work or participating in an approved scheme.

In November 2004, I introduced a new graduated benefit — the GP visit card to extend free GP care and treatment to individuals and families on low incomes. In June last year, I simplified the means test for both medical and GP visit cards. It is now based on an applicant's and spouse's income after income tax and PRSI, and takes account of reasonable expenses incurred in respect of rent or mortgage payments, child care and travel to work. In October, I announced that the income guidelines for both medical and GP visit cards would be increased by an additional 20%. This means the income guidelines are now 29% higher than they were this time last year. These improvements have also made the assessment process much fairer and ensure that those on low to moderate incomes can qualify for free GP care. Non-medical card holders can use the drug payment scheme, which protects against excessive medicines costs. Under this scheme, no individual or family unit pays more than €85 per calendar month, or approximately €20 per week, towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme is easy to use and significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines. In addition, non-reimbursed medical expenses above a set threshold may be offset against tax.