Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

-�Iris Oifigiúil-� of 25th December, 2012.

The Minister for Health, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by Section 5 of the Health Act 1947 (No. 28 of 1947) and Sections 59 (as amended by Section 26 of the Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (No. 3 of 2006) and 1 of the Health Amendment Act (No. 2 of 2010)) and 72 of the Health Act 1970 (No. 1 of 1970) and with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform hereby makes the following regulations.

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Health Services (Drug Payment Scheme) Regulations 2012.

2. These Regulations come into operation on 1 January 2013.

3. The Health Services (Drug Payment Scheme) Regulations 2011 ( S.I. No. 648 of 2011 ) are revoked.

4. Regulation 6 of the Health Services Regulations 1972 ( S.I. No. 88 of 1972 ) is substituted by the following Regulation:-�

-�6.(1) The period determined for the purposes of section 59(2) of the Act shall begin on the first day of any month and end on the last day of that month and the amount determined for the purposes of that sub-section shall be €144.

(2) Where the cost of supplying a person or his or her dependants for the relevant period with drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances obtained on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner, or on the prescription of a registered nurse or registered midwife entitled pursuant to any enactment to prescribe the drugs, medicines or medical or surgical appliances so obtained, for the treatment of that person or his or her dependants exceeds €144, the amount met by the Health Service Executive shall be the amount by which the cost exceeds €144.-�

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform consents to the making of these Regulations,

14 December 2012.

BRENDAN HOWLIN,

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Health,

18 December 2012.

JAMES REILLY,

Minister for Health.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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

These Regulations replace article 6 of the Health Services Regulations 1972 and revoke the Health Services (Drug Payment Scheme) Regulations 2011.

These Regulations provide for the refund of the amount by which expenditure on prescribed medicines or medical and surgical appliances exceeds €144 in any calendar month.