S.I. No. 654/2003 - Health (In-Patient Charges) (Amendment) Regulations, 2003

The Minister for Health and Children in exercise of the powers conferred on him by Section 5 of the Health Act, 1947 (No. 28 of 1947) and Section 53 of the Health Act 1970 (No. 1 of 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, 2003.

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) (No. 2) Regulations, 2002 ( S.I. No. 553 of 2002 ) 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 €45.00 in respect of each day, subject to a maximum payment of €450.00 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, 2004.

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 2002 by raising the daily charge for in-patient services from €40.00 to €45.00 and by raising the maximum amount payable in any period of twelve consecutive months from €400 to €450. The usual exemptions, which include medical card holders and hardship provision shall continue to apply. The revised charge comes into effect on 1 January, 2004.