At the request of Agnès Buzyn, the National Health Insurance Fund (Cnam) presented its draft tariff agreement to dentists in order to set up the “zero charge” for dental care from the end of the year. Which will be administered to you without paying anything?
The Minister of Health Agnès Buzyn had announced it for 2018: the French must be able to have their teeth treated without paying anything. At its request, the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM) therefore presented a draft tariff agreement to representatives of dental surgeons on February 16, in order to implement the “zero charge remaining”, while 80% of Dentists do not currently inform their patients of the price of their care upstream.
A decrease of 562 million euros for dentists
As pointed out The Parisian, Nicolas Revel, director of Cnam, detailed three different types of support to reimburse prosthetic care (bridge, inlay, prostheses, crowns, etc.). The first basket of care, which would cover essential care (or 46.6% of procedures), asks dentists to cut fees by 388 million euros. The second basket of care would require an effort on their part of 174 million euros in order to achieve a “moderate remainder of the charge”. Finally, the prices would remain free for the acts of the third basket which would include high-end treatments. In total, the Cnam asks dentists to lower their fees by 562 million euros. As announced, the cost of basic care (cavities, scaling, etc.) would be increased by 627 million euros to compensate.
The reimbursement levels will vary depending on the location of the teeth and the material used to treat them: those that are visible like the incisors and canines will be better reimbursed than those that are not, like the molars. The objective is to “guarantee access for all to materials whose aesthetic quality is suited to the location of the tooth concerned”, explains Cnam.
The M’T Dents program for adolescents
This project complements many reforms on the same theme. The Social Security financing law (LFSS) for the year 2017 had already extended the M’T Dents program to adolescents, in order toaccess a 100% supported dentist consultation. Young people can benefit from it at regular intervals until they are 24 years old. A good initiative for students who often give up dental care for lack of funds. Especially since additional care is also covered. Established in 2007, the M’T Dents program aims to improve the oral health of young French people. It is divided into two parts: a consultation with the dentist or stomatologist covered 100% and visits to schools.
The majority of dentists do not quote their patients
This zero-charge plan could lead to better transparency on the part of dental surgeons. A survey carried out in 2015 by the General Directorate for Competition, Consumption and the Repression of Fraud (DGCCRF) indeed indicated that 80% of dentists did not inform their patients of the amount of their care in advance. Only 17% of them deliver a detailed estimate upstream, although this has been compulsory since August 1, 2012. It must indicate the selling price of the prosthesis, the cost of fitting and the amount of the plateau. technical.
“The investigation made it possible to highlight that the estimate model contains imperfections which are detrimental to good information and especially which it is difficult for the consumer to understand”, noted the DGCCRF. This control had also shown that 3 dentists out of 10 did not display their fees in their waiting rooms. The CNAM also hopes to strengthen prevention in the area of oral health.
The French and their dentists
6 to 10 million French people do not have access to dental care. Lack of money, of autonomy… There are many reasons for giving up. Three populations are particularly affected by these inequalities: people in precarious, disabled or dependent situations. For example, 15% of structures do not meet accessibility standards for people with disabilities.
A survey of 1,124 people last November, only one in 2 French people (both men and women) stated that they had not gone to the dentist in 2017: 26% felt the waiting times were too long and 42% of respondents said they made an appointment you when they feel discomfort or pain. 7% do not want to go for fear of post-intervention complications and 5% for fear of additional unforeseen costs.
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