Discussions around the new five-year agreement, which brought together doctors' unions and health insurance, ended on Wednesday after five months of talks. If the consultation at 25 euros with the general practitioner has not yet been signed, three out of five unions showing little inclination to this measure. Pending the implementation of this new agreement, for 2017, which must be signed by all concerned by August 26, here are some of the measures that will impact patients from next year.
The consultation with the general practitioner will increase to 25 euros in May 2017, i.e. an increase of two euros compared to the basic rate currently applied. An increase (remove "significant") is also to be expected on the side of the one-time consultant (specialist) opinion, which will increase from 46 to 48 euros in October 2017, until reaching 50 euros in July 2018. As for children under 6 years old, the current price of the consultation with the general practitioner will be, still from May 2017, 30 euros. Ditto for complex acts, which frame screenings (melanoma, etc.) and novelties (first consultation for contraception and for the prevention of STDs with the general practitioner and the gynecologist). The consultation for very complex acts (including initial consultations for information, implementation of therapeutic strategies for patients with cancer or serious neurological pathologies), will increase to 60 euros in November 2017.
Medical deserts, this reality which applies particularly to rural areas, is one of the battle horses of this new convention. Aid of 50,000 euros will also be allocated to doctors who settle there, provided that they stay there for at least three years and that they practice there as a group.
The current "care access contract" will be renamed Controlled Tariff Option (Optam). Its role will remain unchanged; it will continue to encourage signatory doctors to further limit their excess fees in exchange for payment of their social security contributions. A special option, described as more attractive, will be reserved for surgeons as well as gynecologists and obstetricians.
The five-year agreement must have been signed by all the negotiators by August 26; otherwise, an arbitration settlement will be entrusted to a senior official. To be continued, therefore!
