STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS.

S.I. No. 825 of 2004 .

HEALTH (IN-PATIENT CHARGES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 2004.

S.I. No. 825 of 2004 .

HEALTH (IN-PATIENT CHARGES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 2004.

The Minister for Health and Children in exercise of the powers conferred on him by Section 5 of the Health Act, 1947 ( Section 53 of the Health Act, 1970 ( Section 72 of the Health Act, 1970 as adapted by the Health (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order, 1997 (No. 308 of 1997) with the consent of the Minister for Finance hereby makes the following regulations:--

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Health (In-Patient Charges) (Amendment) Regulations, 2004.

2. Article 4 of the Health (In-Patient Charges) Regulations, 1987 ( S.I. No. 116 of 1987 ) (as amended by article 2 of the Health (In-Patient Charges) (Amendment) Regulations, 2003 ( S.I. No. 654 of 2003 ) is hereby amended by the substitution for sub-article (2) of the following:

“(2) The charge referred to in sub-article 4(1) shall be at the rate of €55.00 in respect of each day, subject to a maximum payment of €550.00 in any period of twelve consecutive months, during which the person is maintained as an in-patient provided that in calculating the charge, where such person is so maintained for a single period of more than one day, no account shall be taken of the final day.”.

3. These Regulations shall come into operation on the 1st day of January, 2005.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

These Regulations amend the Health (In-Patient Charges) Regulations, 1987 and 2003 by raising the daily charge for in-patient services from €45.00 to €55.00 and by raising the maximum amount payable in any period of twelve consecutive months from €450 to €550. The usual exemptions, which include medical card holders and hardship provision shall continue to apply. The revised charge comes into effect on 1 January, 2005.