The common social security fund wants to encourage shared medical transport

Why mobilize two medical transport vehicles for two patients going to the same place at the same time? This is the question that the agreement signed this Wednesday January 22 erases. The charter was signed between Nicolas Perrin, director of the joint social security fund (CCSS) of Lozère, Nathalie Guidicelli, president of the professional section of the local joint taxi consultation commission and Philippe Maurin, president of the professional section of the departmental consultation commission for medical transporters of Lozère.

A significant cost for social security

Shared transport in the medical field is indeed a major issue, both economically and ecologically. And the Lozère department appears to be lagging behind a little: shared transport only represents 6.16% of trips in Light Medical Vehicle (VSL), compared to 19% nationally. For Social Security, the cost is colossal. In 2023, the amount of expenses linked to the transport of patients in Lozère reached 16.8 million euros. A figure that has been constantly increasing for several years.

Never imposed on patients

Also, the CCSS and medical transport professionals wanted “put the spotlight back on this device”. However, this particular type of carpooling is not suitable for all situations. For example, there is no question of offering it to a contagious patient, nor of making someone suffering from a serious illness wait. “It's case by case“, specifies Nathalie Guidicelli. In any case, shared transport is never imposed on patients. They also have the choice of carrier.

A “common sense” measure

The device is also advantageous for transporters. “There is a sliding scale depending on the number of patients. This can help amortize the cost per kilometer and free up a vehicle“, underlines Philippe Maurin. For Nicolas Perrin, it is above all a measure of “common sense“. “The social security money is yours”recalls the president of the CCSS.