France Tightens Access to Medical Aid for Undocumented Immigrants, Sparking Controversy

A draft decree, submitted to the bodies of the National Health Insurance Fund, plans in particular to exclude from the AME "acts that are not directly intended for the treatment or prevention of a disease, for adult beneficiaries", reports Le Parisien. The text "expands the list of scheduled and non-urgent benefits whose coverage is subject to a seniority period" in the scheme "for adults", it is specified.

In initiating these draft decrees, the French Executive wants to add "rehabilitation acts carried out in balneotherapy" to the list of acts excluded from the AME, which already includes thermal cures, acts related to medically assisted procreation and certain medicines. With regard to "scheduled and non-urgent benefits" for adults, a seniority period in the scheme will now be required for their coverage.

The second draft decree concerns a revision of the supporting documents constituting the application file for State Medical Assistance. It "updates the list of documents to be attached, taking into account in particular the checks implemented by the primary health insurance funds" on access to the scheme, it is indicated.

"After attacking the unemployed, the sick, we are now attacking immigrants," protests Dominique Corona, Deputy Secretary General of UNSA, a member of the Board of Directors of the Cnam, who believes that his institution should give its opinion in committee next Tuesday. But the unions, who are not in favor of these decrees, are calling for the examination of these texts by the Board of Directors two days later.