Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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739. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the services that can be accessed via the treatment abroad scheme for children facing unacceptably long waits for assessment of need and early intervention; which therapies that are covered; if there are any particular qualifying criteria that parents of these children have to satisfy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15387/23]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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740. To ask the Minister for Health if he will examine the case of a child (details supplied) and advise if the early intervention, for which this child will wait a minimum of 37 months, can be accessed through the treatment abroad scheme, or if there are any other options available in this State for this child to access services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15388/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 739 and 740 together.

The HSE operates the EU Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS), for persons entitled under EU Regulation 883/04. The TAS is a consultant led scheme and allows for an Ireland-based public consultant to refer a public patient who is normally resident in Ireland for treatment in the public healthcare system of another EU member state, the UK or Switzerland. Subject to the EU Regulations and Guidelines, the TAS provides for the cost of approved public treatments in another EU/EEA member state, the UK or Switzerland through the issue of form S2 (IE) where the treatment is:

-among the benefits provided for by Irish legislation;

-not available in Ireland;

-not available within the time normally necessary for obtaining it in Ireland, taking account of the patient's current state of health and the probable course of the disease;

-medically necessary and will meet the patient’s needs;

-a proven form of medical treatment and not experimental or test treatment;

-provided in a recognised public hospital or other institution that will accept EU/EEA form S2 (IE) and;

-is under the control of a registered medical practitioner.

The HSE also operates the EU Cross Border Directive and the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme that facilitates patients accessing treatment abroad. Patients are advised to contact the HSE for advice on making an application for treatment abroad under the most appropriate scheme, in advance of travelling abroad. Further information is available on the HSE's TAS, CBD / Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme websites, including contact details.

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

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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741. To ask the Minister for Health if financial assistance is available to medical card holders who require ArtAssist treatment in their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15424/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for pricing and reimbursement decisions under the community schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.

In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact.

The HSE Health Technology Assessment Group (HTAG) reviewed the evidence for the effectiveness of the ArtAssist device for intermittent pneumatic compression in January 2018. The HTAG found that there was not sufficient evidence of effectiveness to recommend providing reimbursement support for the device.

However, the HTAG have previously stated that if fresh evidence for effectiveness was received, it would be reviewed. Additional evidence has not been presented, and therefore, the HSE does not provide reimbursement support for the use of this product.