Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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563. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the cross-Border directive, which allows citizens to seek medical care in other European Union and European Economic Area member states and to be reimbursed on return home, is not actively promoted by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23175/15]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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661. To ask the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding children’s orthodontist services and the cross-Border directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23929/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 563 and 661 together.

The EU Directive on the application of patient’s rights in cross-border healthcare seeks to ensure a clear and transparent framework for the provision of cross-border healthcare within the EU and is designed to clarify patients' rights to access safe and good quality treatment across EU/EEA Member States.

The Health Service Executive operates the EU Directive on Patients’ Rights in Cross Border Healthcare in Ireland. In line with practice in other EU Member States, the HSE, through the National Contact Point (NCP) office, provides information for patients on the Cross-Border Directive on its website - - and also by phone. The principal function of the NCP (which is the mechanism specified under the Directive for the dissemination of information on the Directive by Member States) is to facilitate exchange of information for patients concerning their rights and entitlements relating to receiving healthcare in another Member State, in particular the terms and conditions for reimbursement of cost and the procedures for accessing and determining those entitlements. The NCP also has a responsibility to ensure that all enquirers are informed of the right to healthcare, if any, that they may have through the European legislation on the coordination of social security schemes (EU Regulation 883/04) and which may be more beneficial to them. The NCP is able to inform patients what the cost of their treatments would be in Ireland to allow them make a comparison with the costs they are being quoted for comparable treatment in another Member State.

The healthcare being sought under the CBD can only be healthcare that a person would be entitled to within the public health system in Ireland, which is not contrary to Irish legislation. Referral for care under the CBD can be made by a GP, a hospital consultant and certain other HSE clinicians. It will be a matter for the patient and his/her referring doctor to identify the clinician abroad and satisfy him/herself in relation to the qualifications, quality and safety of the services being availed of in the other jurisdiction.

Prior authorisation may be required from the HSE for certain healthcare. This requires completion of an application process; consequently patients intending to access care under the CBD should check with the HSE in advance of travelling. The costs must be borne by the individual and he/she then will seek reimbursement for the cost of the healthcare upon return to Ireland. The HSE will reimburse the patient for care which meets the terms of the CBD in line with the Directive. Costs will only be reimbursed up to the level that would have been arisen if the healthcare had been provided in Ireland or the actual cost of the healthcare in the other member state, whichever is the lesser. All other costs associated with accessing care abroad under the CBD are a matter for the patient and will not be reimbursable by the HSE.