The new tariff agreement, capping the price of prostheses and upgrading treatment, is not accepted by dentists.
New government, new mobilization. The dentists, dissatisfied with the trick played on them by the government under the Holland era, are back in the fight. All over France, they will be on strike from June 12 to 18.
They denounce the grid of new prices, which provides for a cap on the price of prostheses. In return for dentists, current care will be reassessed.
From January 1, 2018, the price of a ceramic-metal crown will no longer be able to exceed 550 euros, and a treatment for a cavity will cost 67 euros instead of 41 currently. Tariffs that will be evaluated again in 2020.
Evolution of dental tariffs
Less out-of-pocket expenses, more prevention
Currently, a crown costs around 1,000 euros, and is only reimbursed up to 75.25 euros (base of 107.50 euros, reimbursed at 70%). This share should also be reassessed in 2019, to reach 84 euros (base of 120 euros).
The development is supposed to improve access to dental prostheses for patients who forego them due to lack of budget, by lowering their remaining charge, and give a boost to prevention by encouraging practitioners to provide basic care.
But dentists don’t hear it that way. They denounce a race to the bottom in the quality of services: by capping prices, Health Insurance would encourage them to use lower quality products. They also point out that without the substantial income linked to the fitting of prostheses, they would no longer be able to amortize the exorbitant costs of their equipment.
Baptism by fire for Buzyn
This reform is the result of arbitration by the Court of Auditors; the negotiations between the representatives of the dental surgeons and the Health Insurance having previously failed.
This new mobilization of dentists, organized by local coordinations, would bring together nearly 80% of professionals in certain regions. The arrival of the new government, whose vision seems more liberal, is an opportunity to put a little pressure on the Ministry of Health, and on Health Insurance.
You can not stop progress #MAKEOURDENTISTRYGREATAGAIN #ccdeli #dentger Annul the arbitration rules @MinSoliSante #AgnesBuzyn @EPhilippePM pic.twitter.com/RXvQOxnaBE
– CCDeLi (@CellTW) June 6, 2017
The Federation of Liberal Dental Unions (FSDL) has also called a strike, hoping for the resumption of negotiations. Philippe Denoyelle, its president, was received last Thursday by the new Minister of Health, Agnès Buzyn, and declared to have found “a listening ear”.
One thing is certain: the movement of dental surgeons will be one of the priority issues for the tenant of avenue Duquesne.
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