| Monday, 08 March 2010 | ||||||
Spain reprimanded over cross-border health billGovernment refused to reimburse foreign resident for treatment in home country
By Dave Jamieson
A DISPUTE over a French hospital bill has led to Spain being ticked off by an EU legal advisor. His comments come as the European Parliament is working to revise cross-border health care. The EU's advocate general, Paolo Mengozzi, said last week that Spain was in breach of the EU law which relates to providing services. His report follows an investigation into the case of a French resident of Spain who is affiliated to the Spanish social security system and who had received emergency treatment while on a visit to France. Spain has refused to reimburse the patient for the hospital costs which were involved, and the dispute was referred to the European Commission. Last week's report made it clear that the economic repercussions on a country's national health resources should not restrict cross-border movement of EU citizens. It added, however, that the country of social security affiliation should be obliged to pay no more than the treatment would have cost if carried out within its territory. This legal opinion from the advocate general does not impose an obligation on Madrid but is an independent view presented to the European Court of Justice, where the matter still has to be resolved.
Read more in the March 4 print edition of CDSN
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The European Court of Justice will rule on the matter (PHoto: Cédric Puisney) 
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