-Cross-Border Directive patients left waiting months for reimbursement-
Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan, Brendan Smith, has said the delay in reimbursements through the Cross-Border Directive (CBD) programme is unacceptable and has called on the Minister for Health to increase resources within the CBD office to tackle waiting times.
Deputy Brendan Smith explained, “Over the years the CBD programme has become increasingly popular, primarily due to growing waiting times for procedures in our health care system.
“In my own constituency many have availed of the programme and gone across the border for medical procedures. However, they pay up front and await reimbursement which is often months being processed.
“The onus is on the Minister and his Department to ensure people are repaid monies owed. In most cases, people are traveling for treatment due to his failing HSE. The least the HSE can do is reimburse people in a timely manner,” concluded Deputy Smith.