Co-payment charge in addition to DPS €144

YurOK2

Hiya

I picked up my prescriptions today and in addition to the usual €144 DPS charge, I had to pay another €8.50 approx. for one of the medications I got. The Pharmacist explained that this is a co-payment amount that the government are introducing gradually on all medications. It appears to have only been brought in on this particular medication over the past month because I know I didn't pay this extra charge in previous months.
I am on quite a lot of medication, 10 different ones, and I'm just trying to figure out how this new co-payment is going to effect me.
Does anyone have any links to official information about this? I had a quick look online but couldn't find anything. I'm specifically looking for information on what medication this co-payment is going to be applied to and if the amount varies or if it's the same amount on each item.

Thanks

Ocean Blue

YurOK2 wrote: »

Hiya

I picked up my prescriptions today and in addition to the usual €144 DPS charge, I had to pay another €8.50 approx. for one of the medications I got. The Pharmacist explained that this is a co-payment amount that the government are introducing gradually on all medications. It appears to have only been brought in on this particular medication over the past month because I know I didn't pay this extra charge in previous months.
I am on quite a lot of medication, 10 different ones, and I'm just trying to figure out how this new co-payment is going to effect me.
Does anyone have any links to official information about this? I had a quick look online but couldn't find anything. I'm specifically looking for information on what medication this co-payment is going to be applied to and if the amount varies or if it's the same amount on each item.

Thanks

Was there a particular item which is available generically but you only accept the branded version? In this case the state may only be willing to pay the lower generic price and you must pay the difference. The list of drugs affected is increasing every month. The co-payment element is considered a private transaction so may vary from pharmacy to pharmacy.

Ocean Blue

http://www.hse.ie/referenceprice/

Not sure if this is 100% up to date

cyning

I have had to pay it on losec Mups for my one year old: wasn't covered fully under DPS and now we have a medical card I still pay almost €8 towards it: there's a generic version available but it's not suitable because it has to dissolve. No way around it as far as I'm aware. Hope I'm wrong though!

YurOK2

Ocean Blue wrote: »

Was there a particular item which is available generically but you only accept the branded version? In this case the state may only be willing to pay the lower generic price and you must pay the difference. The list of drugs affected is increasing every month. The co-payment element is considered a private transaction so may vary from pharmacy to pharmacy.

Ah okay, I didn't know that. I'm going to speak to my GP about the generic version of that particular medication.

Ocean Blue wrote: »

http://www.hse.ie/referenceprice/

Not sure if this is 100% up to date

Thanks for that.
It must not be up-to-date, the medication I got isn't listed yet.

I know nearly everything I'm on does not have generic versions or the generic versions are unsuitable for me so I hope this new system doesn't end up getting mega expensive for me

echo beach

YurOK2 wrote: »

Thanks for that.
It must not be up-to-date, the medication I got isn't listed yet.

The HPRA, which used to be called the Irish Medicines Board, has a list which is usually kept up to date. https://www.hpra.ie/homepage/medicines/medicines-information/generics-lists but it does change every month.

Ocean Blue

cyning wrote: »

I have had to pay it on losec Mups for my one year old: wasn't covered fully under DPS and now we have a medical card I still pay almost €8 towards it: there's a generic version available but it's not suitable because it has to dissolve. No way around it as far as I'm aware. Hope I'm wrong though!

Ask your doctor to write 'do not substitute' in hand-writing on the Rx. You will be exempt from the co-payment then. Thry can only do this exemption if there's a very good reason to not use the generic but in opinion needing MUPS for an infant should be sufficient.

locum-motion

cyning wrote: »

I have had to pay it on losec Mups for my one year old: wasn't covered fully under DPS and now we have a medical card I still pay almost €8 towards it: there's a generic version available but it's not suitable because it has to dissolve. No way around it as far as I'm aware. Hope I'm wrong though!

The generic IS suitable to be administered to a one year old.

EDIT: For example, from the SPC for Omeprazole Actavis Capsules 10mg:

Paediatric population
Children over 1 year of age and 10 kg
Treatment of reflux esophagitis
Symptomatic treatment of heartburn and acid regurgitation in gastro-esophageal reflux disease
The posology recommendations are as follows:Age Weight Posology
1 year of age 10-20 kg 10 mg once daily. The dose can be increased to 20 mg once daily if
needed
2 years of age >20 kg 20 mg once daily. The dose can be increased to 40 mg once daily if
needed
Reflux esophagitis: The treatment time is 4-8 weeks.
Symptomatic treatment of heartburn and acid regurgitation in gastro-esophageal reflux disease: The treatment time is 2–4 weeks. If symptom control has not been achieved after 2–4 weeks the patient should be investigated further.

Patients who are unable or have difficulties to swallow capsules:
The capsules can be opened and the contents suspended in a tablespoonful of juice. The suspension should be taken immediately

locum-motion

Ocean Blue wrote: »

Ask your doctor to write 'do not substitute' in hand-writing on the Rx. You will be exempt from the co-payment then. Thry can only do this exemption if there's a very good reason to not use the generic but in opinion needing MUPS for an infant should be sufficient.

As mentioned above, the generic IS suitable, and so there is no valid reason for the Dr to write Do Not Substitute.

Ocean Blue

locum-motion wrote: »

As mentioned above, the generic IS suitable, and so there is no valid reason for the Dr to write Do Not Substitute.

I hadn't actually noticed the age of the child. I assumed it was a smaller baby.

cyning

She's 14 months now, she's on it since she was 4 months... Wish I'd known before now. She's also not 10kg yet so not sutiable I think?

YurOK2

cyning wrote: »

She's 14 months now, she's on it since she was 4 months... Wish I'd known before now. She's also not 10kg yet so not sutiable I think?

I'd rely on what your GP advises.

cyning

Oh I will... Was just interested tbh. Won't be changing one way or the other because she's weaning off it and wouldn't be worth it for the little while she's left on it