Free morning after pill, tobacco hike, single family aid: What’s in the ‘security’ budget passed by Parliament

The National Assembly on Friday evening, December 2, rejected a new motion of censure against the government by the New People’s, Environmental and Social Union (Nupes), leading to the final adoption of the 2023 social security budget by the parliament. Savings plan, struggle. Against medical deserts, an emphasis on prevention, an overview of the main measures included in the bill.

The forecast deficit amounts to 18.9 billion euros

After a terrible record in 2020 (around 39 billion euros), the losses in 2021 have been reduced to less than 25 billion. For this year, they were programmed at 17.8 billion.

But the Assembly and Senate, at the suggestion of the government, supported the expansion of the hospital, specifically to deal with the outbreaks of bronchiolitis and Covid-19, which brings the projected shortfall to 18.9 billion. By 2023, it should be 7.1 billion, if the government’s optimistic projections are confirmed.

Airplane strikes for labs

If the budget does not include cuts in the public hospital budget, savings are programmed in several sectors: about 1 billion for medicine, 250 million for analysis laboratories, 150 million for imaging and the same amount for additional health insurance.

Faced with a revolt by drug producers, the government in mid-October backed off some measures that would have restricted them. Analysis labs are on strike until Saturday over the cuts demanded.

A pack of cigarettes will cost 11 euros in 2024

The average price of a package, currently 10.15 euros, should rise to 11 euros in 2024, depending on inflation. Tobacco taxation brings in 13 to 14 billion a year, against the cost of health insurance of 20 to 26 billion euros.

Free emergency contraception for all

To combat social inequalities in health, preventive counseling will be provided at key life ages (20-25, 40-45 and 60-65). These appointments should also be “A place where sexist and sexual violence was revealed”– the deputies added.

Emergency contraception will be free for all women without a medical prescription. The text also plans to make screening for certain sexually transmitted infections available to everyone without a prescription, and free for those under 26.

A three-year trial of mandatory screening for sickle cell disease in newborns. This inherited genetic disease that affects red blood cells causes anemia, an increased risk of infections and cardiovascular accidents.

Pharmacists and nurses will be able to prescribe vaccines

Pharmacists and nurses will be equipped with a vaccine prescription. And midwives will be able to vaccinate more people.

For general practitioners, the internship was extended for one year

Internship of general practitioners will be extended by one year, internship will be carried out outside the hospital. in “priority” In medical deserts – deputies from all sides asserted their commitment. The purpose of this extension of their training is to better prepare them for liberal practice and to support their installation.

In part in response to the shortage of caregivers, the working age of hospital doctors and nurses will be extended to 72 until the end of 2035. On the liberal side, liberal doctors in combined employment and pensions will be exempt from old contributions. – Old-age insurance, with the income level determined by the decree. In medical deserts, it becomes possible for healthcare professionals to combine employment and retirement.

Due to the absence of doctors in the entire area in the evenings and weekends, it is planned to extend. “Continuous Care” Nurses, midwives and dentists.

Finally, young carers can no longer work on a temporary basis after leaving school, but must first train. “in another environment”worker or liberal, “minimum term” which will be determined by the decree. Temporary jobs are becoming more and more expensive for hospitals.

Hiring 3,000 professionals in nursing homes

About 3,000 nurses and nursing assistants will come to bolster nursing home staffs, the first phase of a plan to hire 50,000 more by 2027. 4,000 additional places in home support services will be added.

The “floor rate” In 2023, it will increase to 23 euros per intervention hour of home help services.

Increased support for single families

Single-parent families will now receive financial aid for child care before entering college, rather than before starting CP. And the minimum alimony paid to them by the family allowance funds in case of non-payment by the other parent will increase by 50% from 123 to 185 euros per month.

The financial support given to families with a carer looking after their child will be reassessed so that their remaining dependents are the same as if the child benefited from kindergarten.

And also

Access to supplemental health insurance will be made easier for young and old, subject to conditions.

Apart from pensions, allowances can no longer be transferred to non-European bank accounts from 2024.

Termination of work prescribed by teleconsultation of a professional other than the attending physician or the physician seen within the last 12 months is no longer reimbursable.

Pesticide exposure would be better compensated for children with occupational diseases of one of the parents, and this compensation would extend to beneficiaries.