FODO Ireland member update – 2 November

Minister for Health confirms plan for COSS fee parity with the Treatment Benefit Scheme

Further to our update on eye care funding on 16 October, Stephen Donnelly, Minister for Health, has committed “to increasing the fee payable to contractors for a standard eye examination under the COSS, to ensure parity with that payable for the same exam under the Department of Social Protection’s Treatment Benefit Scheme.”

The current COSS eye examination fee is €22.51, whilst the fee under the Treatment Benefit Scheme is €30.

2023/24 fees under the Treatment Benefit Scheme have still not been announced. Heather Humphries, Minister for Social Protection, has announced an additional €162 million for the Scheme for 2024, an increase of over 25%, but not how this will be allocated across services.

FODO Ireland continues to engage with both Departments on these issues on your behalf and will alert you as soon as final fees are announced.