Orange with media services, published on Thursday 29 June 2023 at 22.11.
The health insurance has started to check the 1.5% of doctors who issue sick leave in an “atypical” way compared to their colleagues who work in similar conditions – that is, a thousand practitioners.
Faced with the increase in work stoppages, Sygesikringen implements a master plan compensation according to its annual “costs and revenues” report. The doctors are particularly targeted.
Expenses for unemployment benefits excluding Covid have increased by 8.2% in 2022, an increase greater than the “dynamics before the crisis”, indicates the 2023 edition of the report, a copy of which was obtained by AFP on Thursday, June 29.
In total, the daily benefits paid out for sickness absence and occupational accidents/occupational illness amount to 13.5 billion euros in 2022 (excluding maternity leave). “The health crisis has contributed to accelerate a dynamic of the expenses that had already been incurred before Covid”, the report underlines.
The actions carried out by Secu plan to achieve savings of 200 million euros by 2023, and 230 by 2024, or nearly 18% of the $1.3 billion in savings Social Security announced in its report, all expenses combined. The health insurance has started check with the 1.5% of doctors who submit sick leave in an “atypical” way compared to their colleagues working under similar conditions – neither thousand practitioners. These doctors are called to explain themselves and may be forced to lower their prescriptions.
“A strengthening of the work stoppage control strategy” planned
interviews, with consulting general practitioners, will be offered to the 10% of doctors who are in brackets just above the 1.5% most prescribers. And the health insurance will have that “Exchanges” with general practitioners and psychiatrists who frequently issue psychological leave of absence. Teleconsultation will be especially in the sights. Doctors’ unions have already condemned these warnings and checks, e.g. MG France saw it a desire “to frighten health professionals”.
On the social security side, Sécu also provides “a strengthening the control strategy work stoppages” of own services. Here, too, teleconsultation will be particularly monitored. Patients who multiply work stoppages achieved by teleconsultation with different doctors will receive warning letters or will be contacted by Secu. On the employer side, social security will strengthen its information and advisory efforts with companies affected by atypical absenteeism. By 2022, 400 companies were affected, of which 140 joined the National Program for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders and 25 joined an experiment on the prevention of psychosocial risks.
