Cross-Border Health Services Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 December 2019

Tuesday, 3 December 2019

Ceisteanna (435)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

435. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that only a fraction of the cost of medical procedures is being refunded to patients who have surgery carried out under the cross border directive such as in the case of a patient (details supplied) in County Galway; if this partial refund is a new policy direction; if not, the steps that can be taken by patients to recover their out of pocket spending; if there are other medical schemes that can help patients in this situation including but not limited to the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, treatment abroad scheme and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50299/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Under the terms of the Cross Border Directive (CBD), patients in Ireland can seek to be referred to another EU/EEA country for medical treatment that is available in the public health service in Ireland. The patient pays for the treatment and claims reimbursement from the HSE at the cost of that treatment in Ireland or the cost of it abroad, whichever is the lesser. The HSE through the National Contact Point (NCP) provides information for patients on the operation of the CBD.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.