“CPAM kills taxis”: banners hung in Sète illustrate the concern of the profession

A few days ago, black tarpaulins were installed at the entrance to Sète, avenue Martelli, topped with the inscriptions: “CPAM is killing taxis” or “By sacrificing taxis, the CPAM sacrifices your care.” A way of warning about the new agreement with Health Insurance which is not going well with the profession. It forecasts a drop in turnover of 30 to 40%.

The price list for medical transport will in fact be heavily impacted. Currently reimbursed at €1.80 per kilometer, approved taxis in Hérault could see this amount increase to €1.07. “Which is not viable when we know all the charges that we have to pay, Urssaf, VAT but also the surge in diesel”says Alisson Reigniez, professional working in Gard and Hérault. “At €1.07, I’ll stop. Medical transport represents 90% of my shopping”blows a taxi from Balaruc (who did not wish to give his name).

“We are going to become cattle drivers”

But that's not all. The profession also denounces the transport conditions of the Social Security financing law. It provides that a patient can no longer refuse shared transport under penalty of paying the costs. “In rural areas, people will find themselves making detours of 30 km before their appointment. Instead of taking 40 minutes to get to the Parc clinic from Sète, it will take perhaps 1 hour 30 minutes. to get everyone back”says Alisson Reigniez, union member at FNAT*. He adds: “We have a connection with the patients, they tell us their needs, they can cry, they talk about their pathology. There, they are not going to share all that with seven people!” “We are going to become cattle drivers. While we love our job, we are here to support patients,” alerts the Balaru professional.

Taxi artisans are also concerned about the opening of the medical transport market to platforms like Uber. Depending on the negotiations between the taxi federations and Health Insurance, it is not unlikely that a national strike will break out.