Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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553. To ask the Minister for Health if the treatment abroad scheme can be considered by families seeking treatment in the USA given that the best treatment is available there for a condition (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19530/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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 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. Applications to TAS are processed and a determination given in accordance with the statutory framework prior to a patient travelling to avail of treatment.

There is no statutory framework for referral of patients outside the EU/EEA member states. In the instance that a consultant wishes to refer a patient to a non-EU/EEA country e.g. the USA, the HSE TAS applies the TAS administrative process and documentation for the purposes of such applications. Such applications for treatment in non-EU/EEA countries are required to provide evidence that treatment is not available within the EU/EEA.