Established in 2004 in France, the attending physician plays a central role in the French health system: he ensures regular monitoring of his patient’s health, he knows his medical history, his treatments and history. He directs it to specialists or to the hospital if necessary, and provides coordination between the various health professionals. However, this essential figure could be questioned: seven deputies Les Républicains proposed its suppression in a text which will have to be studied by the government during the year 2025. The risk of such suppression? Medicine “à la carte“, fragmented, without follow -up.”CThey make no sense (….) It will be open bar … The patient will consult who he wants, without any follow -up“, alerts Dr. Jean-Christophe Nogrette, deputy secretary general of the MG France generalist union (French Federation of General practitioners). He recalls that studies carried out in Europe and the United States are however formal: having a treating doctor improves life expectancy and reduces health costs.
On the medical level, having a doctor provides personalized and coherent medical follow -up, better coordinating care in the event of chronic disease or long -term treatment and to benefit from prevention advice. On the financial level, this allows you to enter the coordinated care pathway, which gives the right to better social security reimbursements. In France, it is not compulsory to have a doctor, but it is highly recommended.
Without declared treating physician: we leave the “coordinated care course”, which means that the reimbursements of consultations are lower. For example, a consultation with a general practitioner is reimbursed at 30 % instead of 70 % if you are not in the care path. Also, certain specialists’ consultations (not all) are less reimbursed if they are not prescribed or coordinated by the attending physician. As often in the health system, there are exceptions: some people can consult a doctor without going through their attending physician, without reimbursement penalty: those under 16, women for certain gynecological consultations, patients in the event of an emergency or far from their home, people in long -term affection (ALD) in some cases.
To declare a doctor in France, choose a doctor (generalist or specialist) who signed a contract with health insurance, fill out the declaration form (available online or in the office), then give it back to the chosen doctor. It signs it and sends it to health insurance, or you can send it via your Ameli account. You will then receive a notification confirming your doctor.
