In Doubs, approved taxis could well take action and demonstrate if the new Social Security pricing agreement does not change. Drivers are already seeing their business go under with this remuneration and want to save their business
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In Lyon, Paris, Marseille… taxis are making their anger heard. The reason is the reduction in the remuneration granted to them by Social Security for the medical transport of injured or sick people. It will go from 1.62 euros per kilometer to 1.10 euros per kilometer, a sudden drop of at least 30% on paper, or even more depending on their activity.
In the Doubs department, the call for the mobilization of approved taxis has not yet been launched, because discussions are still underway with the general director of the National Health Insurance Fund (Cnam), explains Johanes Ussel, president of the Doubs taxi federation.
The president explains that according to an audit, in a territory like that of Doubs, an approved taxi makes a margin of 10%. “Already we don't have a big margin, with the new methodology, at a minimum, it's a 40% drop in turnoverassures Johanes Ussel before continuing: OI am afraid of no longer being able to transport our social security beneficiaries and of going out of business. It’s the bankruptcy of our businesses.” This new agreement worries many drivers. Pauline Kroemer-Tritre, taxi in the Territoire de Belfort, is categorical: if the new rates are applied, “our businesses are not viable”.
I have four drivers, a secretary. If things go as they are tomorrow, I'll close the business.
Pauline Kroemer-Tritre, taxi in the Territoire de Belfort
Christelle, also a taxi driver in the Territoire de Belfort, also explains that she has put the recruitment of a driver on hold, not knowing what will happen. “At best, we lose 30% of turnover, at worst 50%. I don't know what will become of us. We will stop, we will have no choice, but we leave people in misery”, she says, with approved transport representing 80% of her activity. Johanes has frozen all his investments, he has had to change his cars for six months, hiring has been reduced to nothing…
Christelle is sure, the VSLs will not be able, on their own, to ensure the transport of these patients. Marco, driver in Besançon, doesn't mince his words either.
If this goes ahead as it stands, it will be the death of small businesses. In big cities, this is not going to be a vital issue. But in small towns…
To illustrate his words, he takes an example: “If you are in Ornans, there will no longer be anyone to make the journeys. It’s already hard to find a registered taxi…”
Johanes is already thinking about dismissal. 30% of taxis employ employees. “If tomorrow we are on this protocol, I will not wait two months to dismiss my employee”, he asserts before giving the example of colleagues who have 15 or 20 employees. “They tell me that if this passes, they will lay off 15 people directly.” For the first time in 13 years of trade unionism, Johanes appears very worried and not really calm.
However, everyone agrees that these savings are necessary. “We are for it, we are aware that transport is expensive and that there is a large deficit. But we are already making discounts, on invoices, we are already withdrawing 17-20% of what we have on the meter. But tomorrow they want to increase it to 40-50%…We agree to make efforts, but not as much”, underlines Pauline Kroemer-Tritre. For her, other levers to make savings can be found. But she is not the only one to hold this opinion. “We agree, but we have to stop pulling the rope”, criticizes Christelle.
If they understand the need to save money, they do not understand that we are hitting on them. “We are an essential chain of the care protocolinsists Johanes.
We are developing outpatient surgery, centers of excellence… And we want to reduce transport. But the patients have to be transported from Lons-le-Saunier, Saint-Claude.
Johanes Ussel, President Taxi Federation 25
The president does not fail to specify that the taxi post represents 0.08% of the annual Social Security budget. Christelle does not understand the choices made. “Social Security has done everything possible to enable us to evolve with VSLs in correct conditions, and today the rug is being pulled out from under us.”, she blurted out, in incomprehension. “We are dependent on a prescription, and a sword of Damocles is placed on us over something we cannot control. But we don’t stuff ourselves!”, adds Johanes.
The last point addressed by the drivers is shared transport. On paper, why not. In reality, sometimes it's very different. “If it's within 10 minutes, I can understand. But if you have to wait 40 minutes, and one is in Pontarlier and the other in Morteau… Underlines Marco, who already explains doing simultaneous transport. And if it's limited to two people, it can still be okay, but if the cars have to be filled…”Christelle shares the same opinion.
When we arrive at the Minjoz University Hospital at 12 p.m., with one patient who has chemo for six hours and the other for 2 hours, do we make someone wait four hours? This is unacceptable, shameful.
Christelle, taxi in the Territoire de Belfort
Pauline Kroemer-Tritre ensures that of the four taxis that operate in the Territoire de Belfort, two vehicles never end up in the same place at the same time.
Everyone hopes for a change in the road map. Because if today there is no mobilization, Johanes Ussel explains that this will come if the new convention remains as it is. “And we're not just going to go “tut tut” in our cars. The movement will have an unprecedented scale. It's not just that we're going to earn less money, we're at risk for the survival of our businesses..”
