French Deputies Authorize Reimbursement of Certain Treatments Without Prescription, Improving Access to Care via Health Professionals

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Published on
Friday, April 28, 2023 10:58 AM
by the Meilleurtaux editorial team

French deputies have adopted a bill aimed at relieving pressure on GP surgeries by authorizing the reimbursement of certain treatments without a medical prescription. This measure will allow patients to go directly to a physiotherapist, a speech therapist or a nurse without having to go through their doctor first.

Improving access to care via health professionals

At first reading in the National Assembly, a bill brought by the deputy and rheumatologist Stéphanie Rist was adopted by the majority.

ImportantThis bill aims to improve access to care by generalizing direct access to nurses in advanced practice (IPA), massage therapists-physiotherapists and speech therapists, without going through a general practitioner to obtain a prescription.

The text also allows these health professionals toexercise the power of first prescription, but only if they are integrated into coordinated care structures, such as multi-professional health centres.

This measure paves the way for the reimbursement of consultations by health insurance and should improve access to care for the French, in particular those established in medical deserts.

By generalizing direct access to certain health professionals, the deputies and senators hope to unclog the offices of general practitioners and allow everyone to more easily access the care they need.

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Limited access to nurses and physios in advanced practice

Despite the notable advances, senators successfully lobbied to limit direct access to advanced practice nurses and physical therapists. In other words, health professionals working alone or registered in a professional territorial health community (CPTS) will not benefit from this measure.

The president of the National Union of Advanced Practice Nurses, Emmanuel Hardy,

Expressed his disappointment saying that “this decision would only aggravate the difficulties of access to care for citizens”.

Emmanuel Hardy

Sébastien Guerard, president of the French Federation of Rehabilitation Physiotherapist Masseurs (FFMKR), also underlined the ineffectiveness of this limitation by describing its impact as “purely cosmetic”, given that only 3% of physiotherapists work in MSPs.

ImportantSenators have shown some flexibility with respect to speech therapists. The latter will be able to receive patients without a medical prescription provided that they are part of a CPTS.