INTERVIEW WITH MEP FRANCOISE GROSSETETE, RAPPORTEUR ON CROSS-BORDER HEALTH CARE : DIRECTIVE WILL GUARANTEE IMPROVEMENTS IN QUALITY OF CARE.

PositionInterview

On 19 January, MEPs must adopt their position at second reading on the Directive on cross-border health care based on the compromise reached at the end of 2010 with the Council. Widely supported by the various political groups, this agreement marks the end of lengthy negotiations concerning the rights of patients being treated in another member state, including the issue of the reimbursement of care. The day before the vote, EPP rapporteur Francoise Grossetete (France) welcomed the fact that, from 2013, a patient being treated in another member state will be able to be reimbursed up to the amount of the reimbursement anticipated by his own national health system for similar treatment, if he is entitled to this in his country of affiliation.

Could you illustrate the directive's contributions via a concrete example: let's take the case of a Belgian person with a hip problem. What steps must he take under the directive in order to be treated in another member state?

The patient must find out from his national point of contact whether it would be appropriate for him to be treated in another member state. Because, as of this directive, each member state is obliged to set up a point of contact - a kind of one-stop shop - making it possible to inform and direct the patient according to his medical requirements. This point will give him information on the conditions of access and the conditions of reimbursement in force. Depending on the case, the patient must obtain prior authorisation from the member state of affiliation. Current health care treatment will not require prior authorisation; it will be sufficient for the patient to contact his social protection system, whereupon he will be given a document enabling him to be treated elsewhere and to be reimbursed.

How will this work in the case of non-hospital treatment, which is often more costly?

When it concerns hospital treatment or specialised treatment, the member state will - at that moment - be required to give prior authorisation. This can only be refused on obvious grounds. The EP has obtained a closed list of criteria, such as a person with a heart condition who may be refused authorisation on the grounds that a transfer could be dangerous for him. The same goes for a patient who wants to be treated in an establishment with a poor reputation.

Waiting times are, on the contrary, a good reason for granting him prior authorisation. If the waiting time is too long in the member state of...

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