Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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177. To ask the Minister for Health the reason patients going across the Border for treatment are waiting for arrears payment from the HSE; the number of cases that have been dealt with in 2019; the number waiting to be reimbursed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42471/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The HSE is responsible for the operation of the Cross Border Directive and the management of the HSE Cross Border Directive (CBD) office is an operational matter for the HSE.

The HSE has advised that the scheme is operating with an increasing workload and currently has a backlog of up to 4 months claims/applications.

Officials of my Department met with the HSE in July to discuss the issue of reimbursement delays for patients who have availed of the Directive. The HSE undertook to give consideration to measures which could be put in place in the short-term to address the significant backlog in processing applications, and to also examine current resourcing of the CBD office and to identify necessary actions to mitigate waiting times arising from current and future demand for the scheme. A report is awaited from the HSE on the measures it proposes to take to address the delays in reimbursement.

As the PQ refers to operational matters which HSE have operational responsibility for, I have also referred the Deputies question to them for direct reply.