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Treatment Benefit Scheme Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 June 2015

Thursday, 11 June 2015

Questions (163)

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

163. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that no community physiotherapy service for children with rheumatoid conditions exists in the Kildare and west Wicklow area, if children in this area can avail of treatment abroad under the European Union Cross-Border Directive; if so, if he will direct the Health Service Executive to actively inform patients of the alternative options available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22793/15]

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Written answers

The HSE operates the Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) for persons entitled to treatment in another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland under EU Regulation (EC) No. 883/2004, as per the procedures set out in EU Regulations (EC) No. 987/2009, and in accordance with Department of Health Guidelines. Patients have the ability to apply to the HSE TAS seeking access to public healthcare outside the state through model form E112. The application requires the patient's Irish based public referring hospital consultant, following clinical assessment, to certify, among other things, that the treatment is medically necessary and will meet the patient's needs. The treatment must not be available within the State or not available within a time normally necessary for obtaining it.

The Health Service Executive also operates the EU Directive on Patients' Rights in Cross Border Healthcare in Ireland, under Statutory Instrument 203 of 2014. The Directive provides rules for the reimbursement to patients' of the cost of receiving treatment abroad, where the patient would be entitled to such treatment in their home Member State (Member State of Affiliation) and supplements the rights that patients already have at EU level through the legislation on the coordination of social security schemes (EU Regulation 883/04). The Directive seeks to ensure a clear and transparent framework for the provision of cross-border healthcare within the EU, for those occasions where the care patients seek is provided in another Member State rather than in their home country.

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.

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