Health Insurance Disconnects Seven Health Centers
- PARIS (AP) — Seven health centers across France have been sidelined by health insurance authorities following an investigation into what officials describe as "fraudulent and recurrent practices." the...
- The French health insurance agency, which has not released the name of the network involved, stated that the financial damage is estimated at 6.6 million euros.
- According to a press release, the investigation was triggered by "inconsistencies" in invoicing practices at some of the centers.
French Health Insurance Deflects Seven Centers Amid Fraud Investigation
Table of Contents
- French Health Insurance Deflects Seven Centers Amid Fraud Investigation
- French Health Insurance Fraud: your Questions Answered
- What happened with French health centers?
- What does it mean for a health center to be “deflected”?
- How many centers are affected?
- Where are these affected health centers located?
- How much financial damage has been caused by the fraud?
- What kind of fraudulent practices were uncovered?
- Who was involved in the investigation?
- Could third-party payment have contributed to this fraud?
- How widespread is this type of fraud in France?
- What is the French health insurance agency doing to combat fraud?
- Key statistics on French Health Insurance Fraud
PARIS (AP) — Seven health centers across France have been sidelined by health insurance authorities following an investigation into what officials describe as “fraudulent and recurrent practices.” the action, which took effect Monday, April 7, will see the centers deflected for periods ranging from four to five years.
The French health insurance agency, which has not released the name of the network involved, stated that the financial damage is estimated at 6.6 million euros. The affected centers are located in burgundy-Franche-Comté, Grand-Est, Brittany, Île-de-France, and Normandy.
According to a press release, the investigation was triggered by “inconsistencies” in invoicing practices at some of the centers. This led to the establishment of a national task force to scrutinize the entire network, comprising nine centers in total.
In addition to the seven centers deflected on Monday, one center voluntarily closed following the health insurance review.Another center had its operating authorization revoked by the regional health agency Grand Est, resulting in its permanent closure.
Fraudulent Practices Uncovered
The health insurance agency detailed the nature of the fraudulent activities. “Investigations revealed fraudulent and recurrent practices across the nine centers, including billing for services not rendered, procedures performed without the presence of a qualified ophthalmologist or orthoptist, and the systematic billing of medical acts based on instructions given to staff, irrespective of the patient’s actual medical condition.”
The agency added, “The overall financial damage to health insurance exceeds 6.6 million euros.”
The investigations were conducted “in close collaboration” between the National Health Insurance Fund, the gendarmerie, and its Central Office for the Fight against Illegal Work (OCLTI), according to the health insurance statement.
The health insurance agency explained that in cases of decontenting, care provided at the affected center will be reimbursed at a substantially reduced rate, known as the authority rate. This measure is intended to discourage patients from using the center and quickly prevent further financial losses to the health insurance system.
Authorities suggest that the widespread adoption of third-party payment, implemented as part of the 100% health reform under President Emmanuel macron’s first term, may have inadvertently facilitated large-scale fraud in unscrupulous health centers. Because patients often have no out-of-pocket expenses, they may be less likely to scrutinize the services billed to their health insurance on their behalf.
Since 2023, a total of 52 health centers have been deflected, with approximately 90 million euros in fraud detected and stopped, according to health insurance officials. the amount of fraud detected and stopped by health insurance, across all categories, has more than doubled in five years, reaching 628 million euros in 2024. Officials attribute this increase to both intensified anti-fraud efforts and the increasing sophistication of fraudulent schemes.
French Health Insurance Fraud: your Questions Answered
What happened with French health centers?
Seven health centers in France have been “deflected” by health insurance authorities following an investigation into fraudulent practices. This action, which took effect on Monday, April 7th, will see these centers sidelined for periods ranging from four to five years.
What does it mean for a health center to be “deflected”?
In cases of deflection, care provided at the affected center will be reimbursed at a substantially reduced rate, known as the authority rate. This is to discourage patients from using the center and to prevent further financial losses to the health insurance system.
How many centers are affected?
As of the provided details, seven centers have been deflected. One center voluntarily closed, and another had its operating authorization revoked.
Where are these affected health centers located?
The affected centers are located across several regions of France, including:
- Burgundy-Franche-Comté
- Grand-Est
- Brittany
- Île-de-France
- Normandy
How much financial damage has been caused by the fraud?
The financial damage is estimated at 6.6 million euros, according to the French health insurance agency.
What kind of fraudulent practices were uncovered?
The investigation uncovered several fraudulent and recurrent practices, including:
- Billing for services not rendered
- Procedures performed without a qualified ophthalmologist or orthoptist
- Systematic billing of medical acts based on staff instructions, regardless of the patient’s actual medical condition
Who was involved in the investigation?
The investigations were conducted in close collaboration between the National Health Insurance Fund, the gendarmerie, and its Central Office for the Fight against Illegal Work (OCLTI).
Could third-party payment have contributed to this fraud?
Authorities suggest that the widespread adoption of third-party payment, implemented as part of the 100% health reform, may have inadvertently facilitated large-scale fraud. Because patients often have no out-of-pocket expenses, they may be less likely to scrutinize the services billed to thier health insurance.
How widespread is this type of fraud in France?
As 2023, a total of 52 health centers have been deflected due to fraudulent practices.The amount of fraud detected and stopped by health insurance, across all categories, has more than doubled in five years, reaching 628 million euros in 2024. Officials attribute this increase to both intensified anti-fraud efforts and the increasing sophistication of fraudulent schemes.
What is the French health insurance agency doing to combat fraud?
The health insurance agency is intensifying its anti-fraud efforts. This includes investigating health centers, deflecting those found to be engaging in fraudulent activities, and working in collaboration with law enforcement agencies.
Key statistics on French Health Insurance Fraud
Here’s a summary of key figures related to the health insurance fraud investigation:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of Centers Deflected (Since 2023) | 52 |
| Estimated Financial Damage (Related to this investigation) | 6.6 million euros |
| Total Fraud Detected and Stopped (2024, all categories) | 628 million euros |
| Fraud Detected and Stopped (since 2023) | Approximately 90 million euros |