The rates for medical consultations will increase by 1.50 euros before the end of the year, that is, a minimum of 26.50 euros for general practitioners and 31.50 euros for specialists, according to the “arbitration regulations” presented this Monday to the liberal medical unions.
These revaluations, which still need to be approved by the Minister of Health, François Braun, will come into force “at the expiration of a period of six months”, that is, at the end of October at the earliest, according to this document, of which AFP got a copy.
Two months after the failure of the negotiations between doctors and Health Insurance, the senior official Annick Morel, appointed to “arbitrate” this file, chose to resume as is this general increase proposed at the beginning of the year by Social Security, for a cost of 600 million euros for a full year.
On the other hand, “no revaluation subject to a territorial commitment” was maintained. In fact, the unions had prepared for this second level of prices (30 euros for general practitioners) reserved for doctors who accepted certain considerations: take on more patients, work the night shift, practice in a medical desert, work on Saturdays in the morning…
The former inspector of Social Affairs has also brought to light several expensive measures for the Executive.
Consultations at 60 euros
To “free up medical time”, financial aid for hiring medical assistants will “be expanded and made more flexible”. Emmanuel Macron has set a target of 10,000 jobs by the end of 2024, up from just over 4,300 to date.
Unlike price increases, this decision will be applied without delay, as will the creation of a new consultation at 60 euros for the acceptance of a chronic patient without a treating doctor. Here too, the Head of State promised that the 700,000 people in this situation “will be offered a doctor before the end of the year.”
There is also no time limit for “unscheduled and urgent care response.” The arbitrator chose to “perpetuate” the incentives for the liberals who participate in the “regulation” of the Samu telephone line (100 euros per hour) and receive patients in 48 hours (increase of 15 euros). Two key points of the “flash mission” that Mr. Braun implemented upon his arrival in the summer of 2022.
Source: BFM TV
