EU - Clearer rules on seeking healthcare abroad
On Wednesday 19 January, MEPs have approved a new EU law setting out patients' rights to seek medical care in another EU country. The rules for reimbursement are clarified now, including when advanced authorization may be required.
Françoise Grossetête, who led discussions in Parliament, stated that patients will no longer be left to their own devices when they seek cross border healthcare and reimbursement. This directive will at last clear up patients' rights because until now they have been very vague.
With the new rule, EU citizens can be reimbursed for healthcare they receive in another Member State, as the type of treatment and costs would have normally been covered in their own country.
Instead of authorities requiring ‘prior authorization' for patients, MEPs now insisted that any refusal will need to be justified according to a restricted list of possible reasons. Each country must establish a ‘contact point' to provide information to patients considering seeking treatment abroad.
Further on, MEPs have strengthened provisions for cooperation on rare diseases, which can benefit patients from long waiting lists by seeking healthcare abroad. However, most patients prefer to receive treatment close to home. Currently, 1% of Member States' health budgets are spent on cross border healthcare.
The new rule only concerns those who choose to seek treatment abroad. The European Health Insurance Card scheme will continue to apply for citizens who require urgent treatment when visiting another EU country. Once the rule is signed into law, Member States have 30 months to make changes to their national legislation.
The full article can be read here: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/en/pressroom/content/20110119IPR11941/html/Clearer-rules-on-seeking-healthcare-abroad
