Three unions recently called on GPs to close their practices at Christmas. They intend to protest against the health bill. A cry of anger which now extends to all liberal doctors.
After the general practitioner unions, it is now those representing all of liberal medicine who are calling on doctors to close their practices from December 24 to 31. These specialists also intend to protest against Marisol Touraine’s health bill which will be discussed in Parliament next January. Contacted by why actor, Dr. Jean-Paul Ortiz, president of the first union of liberal doctors (CSMF), explains the reasons for anger.
Generalized third-party payer: a sticking point
“Today we are in a situation where the liberal medical profession is fed up with bills and what is happening to them. The health law, administrative harassment, the value of acts, etc … all this contributes to an extremely explosive situation among doctors ”, confides Jean-Paul Ortiz.
“We are giving the government two months to open negotiations and change course. Liberal medicine must be put in its rightful place. And consider her where she should be. If we have not made progress on these subjects, there will be an extremely massive strike movement ”, warns this nephrologist practicing near Perpignan (Cabestany).
Among the reasons for the anger, the third party payment generalized to all French people, which must be adopted soon in the Assembly. Supposed to come into force in 2017, this doctor describes the measure as “dogmatic, expensive, unnecessary and technically very complex. “For him, claiming that this is a measure for better access to healthcare for the most disadvantaged is a” false debate. ”
Listen to Dr Jean-Paul Ortiz, president of the CSMF : ” The most disadvantaged populations (CMU, CMU-C, ACS, AME) already have a full third party payment. “
Framed prescriptions: a call to disobedience
Another point of contention is the entry into force of the prior agreement device for certain cholesterol-lowering drugs. In fact, since November 1, 2014, any prescription for rosuvastatin (Crestor®), ezetimibe alone (Ezetrol®) or ezetimibe in combination with simvastatin (Inegy®, Vytorin®) must be subject to ” a request for prior agreement by the prescriber to initiate treatment.
In practice, it is up to the doctor to make the request for prior agreement so that patients can benefit from the coverage of these drugs. They can do this online (ameli.fr) on their secure professional health account. Failing this, he can complete a form which he will send by mail to the medical control service of the insured’s Cpam.
For Dr Jean-Paul Ortiz, “there are enough of them to put in place bureaucratic and technocratic measures which undermine the freedom of prescription. I call on doctors to continue to use all the drugs they have at their disposal, respecting the recommendations of the Haute Autorité de Santé, and especially for cholesterol-lowering drugs. ”
Listen to Dr Jean-Paul Ortiz : ” We blame doctors on everything. For example, on a rate of daily allowances or on a rate of non-substitutable drugs. This on a statistical offense. We end up with laughable things. “
Towards low-cost medicine
To conclude, Dr. Jean-Paul Ortiz asks that liberal medicine be respected, “and that it be taken into account in the organization of the health system. “The minister’s health law goes the other way since it centers everything on the hospital,” he thinks.
According to him, this requires in particular a revaluation to its fair financial value of the profession, but also by a continuous training of quality, “within the framework of a real CPD that the state must finance. “Without that, we are turning more and more towards” low cost “medicine,” he concludes.
Listen to Dr Jean-Paul Ortiz : ” Today, the value of acts is disconnected from the service rendered to the population. We must work on it urgently. “
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