Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2015
527. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health in relation to the treatment abroad scheme if it is normal procedure for funding to be pulled last minute after the person (details supplied) has landed in the country where the treatment is due to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28324/15]
View answerThe 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. As part of the approval process it is required that the hospital outside the state will accept form E112 (IE). Acceptance of this form effectively means payment for the treatment will be at a state to state level following from the aim of the EU Regulation to facilitate free movement for citizens of their social security entitlements within member states.
The Deputy should be reminded that the HSE has never withdrawn approval from any patient including this child. The approval granted remains in place and is consistent with the criteria for the Scheme. The approval letter provided in this case specified that the approval granted for treatment abroad was limited to the particular treatment and to the hospital within the public system as was listed in that approval letter. The child attended a private facility which was not the hospital listed in the approval letter and which does not accept model form E112 as a method of payment. The issue of availing of private healthcare outside the terms of the Scheme and the approval given, is a matter for the parents and referring doctors and cannot be addressed by the HSE TAS. However, the HSE is cognisant of this child's situation and is currently reviewing the case. A decision on the review of the case will be issued within days. The availing of the treatment abroad in the public health sector remains an option which would be fully funded as per the approval issued.
