the government’s about-face around a franchise on medical devices – L’Express

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the governments about face around a franchise on medical devices –

Waltz of hesitation of the government in the Senate which tabled, this Wednesday, November 20, an amendment to the draft 2025 Social Security budget creating a deductible on health devices (bandages, orthoses and prostheses, pacemakers, etc.) before withdrawing it, against a backdrop of all-out searches for savings.

Today, there is no franchise on medical devices, but exemptions on medicines and paramedical procedures (1 euro per box or procedure) and on medical transport (four euros per transport). Politically flammable measures, these had doubled in the spring causing an outcry.

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In the amendment initially tabled by the government, the amount of this new franchise was not specified, this being to be determined by regulation. “Total expenditure on medical devices represents an important area of ​​health expenditure”, i.e. “20.5 billion euros, including 11 billion euros reimbursed by Health Insurance”, justified the government in the amendment.

A saving of 259 million euros

Asked about the submission of this proposal, the Ministry of Health only indicated that the amendment had been withdrawn, without further details. The Senate, which could have examined the proposal at the end of the week as part of the Social Security budget project, would have, unless surprised, opposed this new frankness: the LR rapporteur for the health branch, Corinne Imbert, in fact indicated to the AFP to be unfavorable.

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In a March 2024 report, the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs (IGAS) calculated that the introduction of a 1 euro franchise on medical devices would generate a saving of 259 million euros, being subject to a ceiling of 50 euros per year per patient. Medical devices include many products, such as hearing aids, IUDs, devices for treating sleep apnea or controlling diabetes, etc.

This about-face on the proposal for a new franchise comes against a backdrop of searches for savings on health spending and a slippage in accounts with an expected deficit of 18 billion euros for Social Security in 2024 and a forecast of -16 billion for 2025.

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