An increase of 1 euro yield EUR 100 million

As every year at the same time, the Government constructed a savings plan to contain the "natural" increase in Medicare spending. So they not progressing faster that 3 next year, he must find some 2 billion euros, as indicated by the National Fund of Medicare in July. The CNAM then made a series of recommendations, among which the need for a decrease in the price of drugs. The Budget Minister, Eric Woerth, is determined to follow this recommendation.

"Price declines will be the preferred axis of measures" which will be presented at the end, the 2010 social security budget, insists it at Bercy. The Executive intends to both reduce the tariff of generics, found even higher than in other European countries, and practise cuts targeted price, via the Economic Committee of health products. Example: the Inexium (anti-ulcer), which is still protected by a patent, should reduce its tariff, as the high authority for health (HAS) found in July was to focus on molecules to the comparable effects for which exist for generic. In total, drug price declines could represent between 400 and 700 million euros.

Another point key to the industry: the Executive could set a rate of refund of relatively low drug spending ("rate k"). Today, beyond an increase of 1.4, industry must surrendering part of their turnover. In 2010, this rate could be only 1, as advocated by health insurance. However, the application of the CNAM to conduct invitations to tender for the purchase of drugs should not be accepted.

16 euros per day currently

Further cuts of tariffs should relate to health professionals, such as radiologists. But the Medicare proposal does more to support a portion of the contributions of liberal doctors against rate (sector 1) is unlikely to be validated. Finally, expenditure control measures (drugs, work stoppages, ambulances, etc.) represent approximately EUR 500 million.

If the Government insists on price reductions, it is because he knows that they are much less unpopular that other measures planned and already fustigées savings PS. First, the increase in the hospital package, today set at 16 euros per day. This tariff had been relieved of 3 euros in three years between 2005 and 2007, but he has not budged since. In addition, some insureds are exempt in CMU beneficiaries (women pregnant over 4 months, etc.) and the package is supported by complementary (mutual, insurance).

Eric Woerth also said that rising yesterday evoked the "Sunday Journal" was a "trail" but that, in any event, "should not make it an absolute tragedy." "We move on to 20 euros or something like that", said Social Affairs Minister Xavier Darcos before correct shooting in a press release indicating that it is to "work track".

If the package recovery is very likely, its level is not be arbitrated. "It would not illegitimate there is catch-up" but 4 euros more "it seems to me very high", responded the Minister of health, Roselyne Bachelot, yesterday on France 5. An increase of 1 euro yield EUR 100 million. And cost almost as much to the bodies.

The latter will certainly criticize this orientation and the will of the Government to bring back from 35 to 15 the rate of reimbursement of medicines to "blue sticker". Persons suffering from a disorder of long duration (ALD) remain nevertheless supported 100.

Medical service

The MSA (farmers plan) and the (independent) IHR had called in July to 15 the rate of refund when the drug can be obtained without a prescription. But it seems difficult to impose from the point of view of the rules of competition, and the preferred option would be more related to the medical service rendered (SMR) by treatment. 35 Drugs are at SMR of level 3 or 4 (65 to 1 or 2).

The economy of a passage to 15 for the whole of blue thumbnails would be EUR 200 million for health insurance, but rather 100 million if only SMR 4 drugs are covered. "If there are drugs which medical efficacy is not proven, the question of the rate of refund is asked", simply said Eric Woerth yesterday. To Roselyne Bachelot, decrease the rate of reimbursement of drugs such as aspirin or paracetamol, "is not a good idea."