<p>
	And pensioners will receive cheaper medicine.</p>
<p>
	Around 9,000 children will qualify for medical cards after cabinet agreement on new legislation.</p>
<p>
	Health Minister Simon Harris tonight announced that children in receipt of the domiciliary care allowance (DCA) would automatically qualify for a medical card.</p>
<p>
	The DCA is a monthly payment for a child under 16 who has a severe disability and &ldquo;who requires ongoing care and attention, substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age&rdquo;. The allowance isn&rsquo;t means tested.</p>
<p>
	Harris said the measure will be introduced in early 2017.</p>
<p>
	&ldquo;The latest figures show that this initiative will benefit approximately 9,000 very sick children who are not currently eligible for a medical card. As a result 33,000 children will be eligible for a full Medical Card. It is my intention to introduce this measure as early as possible in 2017.&rdquo;</p>
<p>
	The cabinet has also agreed to cut the prescription charge for over 70s by &euro;0.50 per item or &euro;5 per month to &euro;2 per item and &euro;20 maximum per month respectively from 1 March 2017.</p>
<p>
	This will see some 330,000 pensioners receive cheaper medicines.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	(Published by TheJournal.ie on the 13th December 2016)</p>
<p>
	<a href="http://www.thejournal.ie/medical-cards-7-3138068-Dec2016/">http://www.thejournal.ie/medical-cards-7-3138068-Dec2016/</a></p>
