In its social security budget, unveiled Tuesday, September 25, the government announced that it wanted to continue to save money in the health sector by promoting the use of generic drugs.
Bercy continues to save. As part of the savings requested from the health sector, which represent 3.8 billion euros in 2019, a new measure was announced in the draft social security budget unveiled on Tuesday, September 25.
Effective from January 1, 2020
From January 1, 2020, if a patient refuses a generic drug without medical justification, he will be less well reimbursed. “The reimbursement of an insured who would not wish, without medical justification, the substitution proposed by the pharmacist will now be made on the basis of the price of the generic”, we can read in the press kit of the bill on the financing of the security system (PLFSS).
[#PLFSS2019] @agnesbuzyn and @GDarmanin presented the measures of the financing bill of the #Social Security 2019.
? Read the press kit here: https://t.co/XNa0Wb3Oxu pic.twitter.com/VsRObN4Gfk
– Ministry of Solidarity and Health (@MinSoliSante) September 25, 2018
“We ask the French who want to access a brand name drug to put their own pocket” explained the Minister of Health Agnès Buzyn. “That is to say that they will be reimbursed on the basis of the most expensive generic (…) unless there is a medical contraindication to the generic” such as an “allergy”, a- she detailed.
A generic drug costs about 40% less according to the Department of Health. “It is thus a question of recognizing the same level of support for care of the same quality”, explains the government. “This measure will apply from January 1, 2020 in order to have the necessary time to support its implementation with patients”.
Objective: less than 100 million euros in short-term savings
This measure also aims to better supervise and regulate the affixing of the “non-substitutable” wording on prescriptions. This subsequently prevents pharmacists from offering generic drugs in place of the original ones. This mention should now be based “on objective medical criteria, defined in conjunction with the national agency for the safety of drugs and health products”, explains the press kit.
The short-term goal is to save 100 million euros, announces the government. Currently, the rate of substitution between generics and originals exceeds 80% in France, but the “mechanisms in favor of substitution are now showing a certain lack of steam” justifies the government.
“A citizen gesture”
“In France, we have a considerable delay in the use of generic drugs, deplored Agnès Buzyn. The latter explains that with this measure she demands” a citizen gesture “from the French.” This allows Social Security to invest in very innovative drugs, in particular to ‘treat cancers’ in children, ”she explained.
Among the other measures announced: “the remainder zero to charge”, that is to say the full reimbursement by Social Security and the supplements of certain glasses, dental prostheses and hearing, will be gradually implemented until 2021. Note also the almost freezing of retirement pensions and family allowances, which only increased by 0.3%. Or the acceleration of the recruitment of staff in accommodation establishments for dependent elderly people (Ehpad) who will benefit from an additional 125 million euros.
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