EU healthcare rights set out
Patients in France have been granted the right to go abroad for medical treatment in the EU
PATIENTS in France have been granted the right to go abroad for medical treatment in the EU.
Rules have been enshrined in a new directive, expected to be fully integrated into French law in 2013.
The directive clarifies a principle previously accepted in several European Court of Justice judgments: people have the right to have treatment in another country and be reimbursed up to the usual rate by their home one if it is a treatment their own country also provides.
This does not apply to emergency healthcare on a visit abroad, covered by the European Health Insurance Card.
The directive says prior authorisation from the French health service is usually needed only for very expensive treatment or hospitalisation.
Even then, it can be refused only in limited cases, such as if the treatment is quickly and easily available in France or there are doubts about the qualifications of the foreign doctor. Where a treatment requires authorisation, national health systems will be able to take a “reasonable time” to consider the request.
France will have to set up a national contact point where people can get information on their crossborder healthcare rights, such as foreign health providers, reimbursement procedures and when authorisation is needed.
The directive also calls for more international compatibility on sharing patient information and for recognition of prescriptions between member states.
The directive is expected to be especially helpful to people with rare conditions or who live close to borders and is not expected to lead to a rush of health tourism, notably because reimbursements are capped at the usual home country rates and travel costs are not reimbursed.
Critics have, however, suggested it could lead to worse access to healthcare for people in poorer countries if people from rich countries use their services to get cheaper rates.
Others have said the “reasonable” wait for authorisation is too vague.
The Connexion will be publishing its Helpguide to Healthcare in France in mid-February.
