Conflict in the medical biology sector: laboratories organize to close their doors

Biologists are voicing their dissatisfaction with the Caisse Nationale d’Assurance Maladie (Cnam), which decided this summer to cut medical procedure fees by 9% from September 11, without prior consultation.

The unions warn that the majority of medical biology laboratories will remain closed. “Virtually all establishments will close their doors this Friday, September 20, and until Monday”, say the seven organizations representing the profession, including the SNMB and SDBIO for independent biologists, and the SNBH for hospital biologists. They are planning a massive mobilization, denouncing the tariff cuts imposed by the French health insurance system.

The biologists believe that Cnam has “betrayed” a three-year agreement signed in June 2023, by deciding on this tariff cut without consultation and in the absence of government representatives. Even though demand for biological analyses has risen considerably, by 5.5% in volume terms at the start of 2024, Cnam seems intent on maintaining a stable budget envelope for the year, leading to cuts in some tariffs and raising concerns about a possible loss of revenue.

Call for negotiations to be reopened

Against a backdrop of inactivity on the part of the Minister of Health, biologists are concerned that they may not get a rapid revision of tariffs. They are nevertheless calling for a “reopening of negotiations”, arguing that the current agreement is based on erroneous data, as indicated by François Blanchecotte, president of the SDBIO. According to the profession, this situation threatens local laboratories, risking closures, downsizing or limited opening hours.

In a letter sent to the unions at the end of August, Thomas Fatôme, Director of Cnam, pointed out that the number of laboratories and sampling sites had increased from 4,266 at the beginning of January 2023 to 4,421 at the end of May 2024. He also pointed out that rates would be reviewed in early 2025, taking into account the dynamics observed, not ruling out increases if they were deemed compatible or necessary to respect the budget envelope.