State pays EUR 70 mln for Romanians treated in the EU

The National Health Insurance House (CNAS) pays annually some EUR 70 million for Romanians who undergo treatment in other European Union countries, said the CNAS president Vasile Ciurchea. “There is a European Directive which says that if, at some point, you can’t treat a patient, he can be treated in another EU state, and we have to pay; this is what happens,” said Ciurchea, cited by local Agerpres. The Romanian Health Insurance House repays the medical services to that country’s Health Insurance House, based on a contract it has with the local institution. Payments don’t go directly to the patient, the doctor, nor the clinic. If a hospital has a contract with the Health Insurance House for 80% of the payment, CNAS will repay the 80%. The patient needs to repay the remaining 20%, Ciurchea explained. editor@romania-insider.com