Orpea is ready to pay the sums requested by the state

“I have decided to fully reimburse the National Solidarity Fund of Autonomy, i.e. 55.8 million euros. [CNSA] », trust me the world Laurent Guilliot, CEO of Orpea. The head of a group of nursing homes and private commercial clinics has so far refused to comply with all his claims made by the administration, which administers social security money for the elderly sector. He made an about-face in a press release published on Tuesday, November 22.

The state of the group, which has been mired in scandal since the publication of Victor Castanet’s book in January, gravediggers (Fayard, 400 pages, €22.90), explains this change of foot. Covered in debt – 9.3 billion euros – Orpea must at all costs convince its creditors and investors to participate in the refinancing plan. The new management relies heavily on the Caisse des dépôts to participate in the round. which implies the removal of disagreements with the state. “In order to fully engage in the re-establishment of the group, I would like to turn the page and leave behind all the things related to the mistakes of the past.” explains Mr. Gilliot.

On July 29, CNSA sent Orpea a letter listing “Misused funds” and “Public appropriations deviate from their purpose in relation to the applicable texts”. The letter was a translation of the 2017 to 2020 General Inspectorate of Financial and Social Affairs report on the group’s management.

IGAS and IGF confirmed the team’s various financial embezzlement techniques until early 2022, which Mr. Castanet revealed in his investigative book.

A strategic retreat

After receiving that letter, Mr. Guillot publicly reversed the discounts his predecessors had demanded from the company’s suppliers on purchases financed with government money. These discounts did not finance products or services for residents. The CEO has pledged to compensate them up to €5.7 million, which is set by the CNSA.

On the other hand, Mr. Guillio disputed the largest part of the invoice – about 30 million euros, which corresponds to the salaries of the staff, which is financed, according to the CNSA, with public funds. The Code of Social Action and Families allows reimbursement of Secu credits for unqualified staff acting as caregivers, but on the condition that they are in continuous training. However, the approximately €30 million paid to the CNSA corresponds to the pay of untrained “acting officers”.