According to the Ministry of Health, the practice of third-party payment by general practitioners has progressed in a particularly significant way since the beginning of the year.
Desired by the Minister of Health, Marisol Touraine, the generalization of third-party payment continues on its way. Despite the opposition of all the unions of liberal doctors, the authorities indeed note an increase in the practice of exemption from advance fees by practitioners.
Its use by general practitioners for pregnant women and patients with long-term illness (ALD) has increased “particularly significantly” since the beginning of the year, indicates a document from the Ministry of Health consulted on Tuesday by the Agency. France Press (AFP).
In October 2016, third-party payment was applied by general practitioners in 74% of general ALD patients’ cases, compared with 66% in the first quarter of the year. For medical specialists, it increased from 77% to 79% during this period, according to this report from the Directorate General of Health (DGS).
A right for all in November 2017
With regard to pregnant women, the rate of application of third-party payment by general practitioners reached 64.5% of care in October (compared to 56% in the first quarter) and 45% among specialists (compared to 39%). And on the side of other health professionals, the level of third-party payment is also very high. For example, physiotherapists practice it in 99% of cases for the care of ALD patients, nurses 99% and laboratories 100%.
As a reminder, this is the last health law which encourages, since July 1 2016, doctors to apply third-party payment to people covered 100% by Health Insurance (pregnant women and people suffering from ALD).
It also provides that they will no longer be able to refuse them from January 1, 2017. And this will be an effective right for all patients from November 1, 2017 (only for the part reimbursed by Social Security).
Unions reaffirm their opposition
But the unions of liberal doctors are fiercely opposed to this generalization, synonymous, according to them, with new administrative constraints or late payments.
This is the case, for example, of the first representative organization of these professionals. The CSMF (1) considers that the government therefore continues to “ignore the open and renewed opposition of the unions (…) and has no doubts, despite the uncertainty as to the application of generalized third-party payment, given political deadlines for 2017”.
This is the case, for example, of the first representative organization of these professionals. The CSMF (1) considers that the government therefore continues to “ignore the open and renewed opposition of the unions (…) and has no doubts, despite the uncertainty as to the application of generalized third-party payment, given political deadlines for 2017”.
Finally, it calls, once again, on liberal doctors not to apply it, and to boycott this law, even after January 1, 2017. “The CSMF renews its attachment to third-party social payment, which must be left to doctor’s assessment,” she concludes.
(1) Confederation of French Medical Unions
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