Pharmacy medication cost- is it refundable on the DPS

take everything

Hi.
Anyone know if it's possible to get some kind of refund on medication even if the total cost doesn't exceed the 132 euro of the DPS scheme.
The pharmacy i used still applies a 50% markup.
I understand that 20% is the appropriate markup for drugs purchased on the DPS.
Is this correct.
And if so is the difference between the applied and appropriate markups refundable to me in any way (even if the total monthly spend may not exceed 132).
Any help with this would be great.
Thanks.

ScouseMouse

Hiya.

Where did you get the 20% and 50% figures from?

If I chemist/shop/garage charges a price for something, you dont really have a right to demand a cheaper price and tell them what they should be making.

I am on DPS but that is completely seperate. If you are buying privately, you should only buy where you are satisfied with the price charged.

take everything

Hi

Where did you get the 20% and 50% figures from?

The pharmacy told me the markup was 50% (it's atleast that). In the DPS, the HSE will reimburse on products that have a 20% markup. Recently they said that if pharmacies go over this 20%, that DPS customers can seek a refund.

If I chemist/shop/garage charges a price for something, you dont really have a right to demand a cheaper price and tell them what they should be making.

I'm not demanding anyone do anything. I'm trying to understand the components of the pricing better.

I am on DPS but that is completely seperate.

My query is about DPS. I've got a DPS card (never knew what it was for mind you until now but i've got one ).

If you are buying privately, you should only buy where you are satisfied with the price charged.

Not sure what you mean by privately (as opposed to DPS). My understanding is that all customers are either DPS or GMS. I got a valid DPS card so i'm DPS.

So my query specifically is:
Is it possible to get a refund (of the difference between the pharmacy 50% markup and the DPS-applicable 20% markup) on any medication that a pharmacy sell you that has a markup of over 20% on the DPS scheme.

I know if you exceed the 132 euro, it is possible to get a refund on this extra markup by the pharmacy.
I would've thought this refund would also be available to those customers who don't reach that 132 euro limit. I don't see the logic in these customers having to pay additional markup. It doesn't seem equitable.
I just want to get clarification on that.
Thanks.

Here's a link to explain the refund that HSE advise DPS customers about.
What i'm trying to figure out is does this specific refund also apply if your monthly spend is under 132 euro. Logically i can't see why not.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/hse-tells-patients-to-ask-for-refunds-from-pharmacies-2909809.html

wmpdd3

I never heard of that, I think the only place that can tell you is the local health office.

jjg

take everything - privately refers to drug refund scheme, where you pay full costs of medicines. all patients are not DPS or GMS there are different schemes depending on your illness etc (lti, high tech, hardship) but most are drug refund, GMS or DPS.

However all drug refund patients are entitled to a DPS card. generally if they don't reach the 120e a month or generally will not reach this amount they wont bother get a DPS card as there would be no benefit to being DPS.

Under DPS the max a person or family (depending on age if children) pays is 120e a month.

If you are exceeding the 120 limit then you are already having your drugs subsidised.

this 50% 20% thing - Basically the government reimburses pharmacies plus 20% of the price of a medicine for medicines dispensed under gms and dps scheme (120% of cost) so something is 20e pharmacist gets 24e from government plus dispensing fee. anyhow then for private patients they would charge 30 e for same product - a 50% mark up because pharmacies can obviously charge what they like to private patients.

However you will find it difficult to get a pharmacy that charges 20% for private patients ( i only know one in limerick, i'm not familiar with dublin, although i am only out of my pharmacy degree so there may be more that do this i'm sure)

For the bad news- I don't think you are entitled to money back anyhow. Like do you want the pharmacy to refund you? They probably won't. I'm not aware of anywhere else you could ask for a refund like a hse department for this kind of thing - I don't think such a place exists

I don't like when people come in and say this to me in work- i'm not the owner i don't decide the prices and i'm not in a position to charge a 20% mark up instead of a 50% one. You could ask the owner of your pharmacy if you want a 20% mark up but they have the right to refuse of course, and I don't know any pharmacies in Dublin that charge a 20% mark up as I've never lived there but there are probably a few.

also it depends on the value of your medicines - perhaps if you were charged the 20% mark up your medicines would still reach the 120euro limit?? in which case you'll be paying 120e anyhow, and you wouldn't be entitled to any money back. if the actual value of your medicines is 300e for example then you'd be paying 120e anyway regardless of the mark up, and the hse would reimburse the pharmacy we'll say 240 plus your 120 would give the pharmacy 360 back ie 20%

I'm not sure your story with 132e, perhaps you get an item eg vitamin or something not covered on the dps scheme, not all items are covered under the hse schemes.

wmpdd3

my card was delayed as it was sent to the wrong address, i had o spend 300 on drugs, when the card came, i went to the hse offices and submitted a cliaim and received a cheque a while later.

Paddy De Plasterer

Both my wife and i are on medication. I pay 132 euro pm under the drug refund scheme. One of the things prescribed for me is Omacor, a sort of oily capsule. When i went to chemist today I was told it is no longer covered under the DRS since 1st. September just gone. So it costs me an extra 33 euro per month on top of the 132 i already pay. Anyone know anything about this.

polymath

Try asking your pharmacists if the drugs you'll be buying are covered. I would also love to know which ones are covered since it would be a useful deal if ever I needed one any medications

dudara

Moved to State Benefits

dudara

wmpdd3

Is there a generic version of your drug? If so maybe only the generic is available on the DPS?

Paddy De Plasterer

I think there is not a generic substitute. It was just removed by HSE. I already pay E132 per month, and this will add another 33 euro to my monthly bill.

Stheno

Paddy De Plasterer wrote: »

I think there is not a generic substitute. It was just removed by HSE. I already pay E132 per month, and this will add another 33 euro to my monthly bill.

It's been removed as a drug that is covered unde the DPS, I think you'll just have to pay the €33 or find a cheaper alternative.

There is a thread here about it.