Written answers
Thursday, 17 October 2013
Department of Health
Treatment Abroad Scheme
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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207. To ask the Minister for Health if it is possible for a family to apply for the treatment abroad scheme for their child who needs rehabilitation and the type needed is not available here. [43998/13]
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The HSE operates a Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS), for persons entitled to treatment in another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland under EU Regulation 1408/71, as per procedures set out in EU Regulation 574/72 and in accordance with Department of Health and Children Guidelines. Within these governing EU Regulations and the Department of Health and Children's Guidelines, the TAS provides for the cost of approved treatments in another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland through the issue of form E112 (IE).
The TAS allows for an Irish based consultant to refer a patient that is normally resident in Ireland for treatment in another EU member state or Switzerland, where the treatment in question meets the following criteria:
(a) The application to refer a patient abroad has been assessed and a determination given before that patient goes abroad.
(b) Following clinical assessment, the referring consultant certifies the following:
- They recommend the patient be treated in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland;Patients in conjunction with their Irish based public referring hospital consultant have the ability to apply to the HSE TAS seeking access to public health care outside the state through model form E112. Applications to the TAS are processed and a determination given in accordance with the statutory framework prior to a patient travelling to avail of treatment. Approved applicants/patient's hospital treatment costs are covered through the issue of form E112 (IE) for specific identified episodes of care. The governing Regulations do not provide for the patient's travel or subsistence costs but the HSE in line with its national travel policy provides funding for patient's air or sea fares.
- The treatment is medically necessary and will meet the patient's needs;
- The treatment is a proven form of medical treatment and is not experimental or test treatment;
- The treatment is in a recognised hospital or other institution and is under the control of a registered medical practitioner;
- The hospital outside the state will accept EU/EEA form E112 (IE).
Once a patient is discharged from a specific episode of care abroad, their care immediately reverts to their Irish based consultant.
Further information on the scheme is available on the HSE website or by contacting the HSE Treatment Abroad Scheme office on 056 778 4551 or via email on . Application forms and information documents can be obtained through that office.
John O'Brien
Posted on 7 Jul 2014 8:21 pm (Report this comment)
Good Evening. I hope you can help me to sort out this problem related to the Treatment Abroad Scheme Office in Kilkenny.
Even though my doctor who tried to refer me for a treatment abroad under the e112 scheme - is a consultant who works in a HSE hospital and also the hospital abroad is a public hospital that accepts e112 form of payment then my application was rejected.
First they replied to me that " the treatment abroad scheme office" (in Kilkenny) requires that the refering consultant should be working in an acute hospital thats is why they rejected my application. Later when I discovered that my consultant works indeed in the acute hse hospital then I contacted them again and now they say that this kind of consultant in not an appropriate kind of doctor even though I have been assessed by this consultant since May of 2013 in accordance to the requirements of the hospital abroad.
Please tell me then. What right does have the treatment abroad scheme office in Kilkenny to set own sub-conditions/regulations that are even not included at all in the EU Regulations: 1408/71, 574/72 and Guidelines of the Department of Health and Children.
Is there any regulation stating that the Treatment Abroad Scheme Office has a right so that to require that a patient to be approved for funding under the E112 T.A. Scheme should be refereed by a specific kind of consultant that works in the HSE hospital?
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They even have no right to give any kind of medical opinion at all. And it is understandable that the hospital abroad has its own requirements that have to be meet in order to be approved for the treatment on its own (not the funding). Also the consultant has his/her medical responsibility and sufficient knowledge to make a clear decision about if someone qualifies for the treatment or no.
So how it is?
Thank you kindly for your help.
John