Cross-Border Healthcare Procedures and National Registry for Rare Diseases

Today, the National Assembly of Bulgaria adopted amendments to the Health Act, transposing the European Directive on cross-border healthcare. According to the adopted amendments, each patient needs to obtain authorisation from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), so that the cross-border treatment he/she receive would be later reimbursed. Health Act further describes cases, in which NHIF may refuse to reimburse cross-border healthcare. NHIF will cover the costs of patients treated abroad only to the amount that is currently reimbursed in Bulgaria . The amendments also establish a National Registry of rare disease patients in the country. For more information, please visit the official site of the National Assembly.