“Further investigation”. Health centers: profits on prescription

2024-03-14 23:11:19

Published on 03/12/2024 5:21 p.m. Updated on 03/15/2024 00:11

Duration of the video: 72 min Further investigation

Until 2023, to open a health center, there was no need for medical training or approval from the authorities. The result is numerous abuses: profit-seeking, Social Security fraud, botched consultations. “Further investigation” into a system that sometimes goes wrong.

A former restaurateur or a former poker champion who has become the owner of medical centers where dozens of patients pass through every day, does that seem incongruous to you? However, it is true and completely legal. Until 2023, there was nothing simpler: to open a center, there was no need for medical training, much less any authorization from the health authorities.

The objective was laudable: to tackle the French medical deserts by increasing the provision of care. But ultimately, there are numerous abuses. Race for profit, Social Security fraud, botched consultations: when the system goes out of control, it is public finances and patients who suffer. Like Stéphane who lost a large part of his visual abilities following what he considers to be an error in diagnosis in an ophthalmic center. Many former employees agreed to reveal how this brand allegedly organized a vast system of health insurance fraud, between overbilling and false declarations.

Deregulation that raises questions

Supporting internal documents and exclusive testimonies, the magazine’s teams also investigated a non-profit association created in 1945 to treat post-war patients. A family has imposed itself at the helm of this historic group with a social vocation and is today suspected of having contributed to emptying the coffers. Luxury cars, caviar, prestigious hotels: focus on this incredible affair.

The former Ministers of Health Roselyne Bachelot and Agnès Buzyn at the origin of the deregulation of the sector outline the beginning of MEA culpa on this choice in front of our camera. “Additional investigation” into medical centers not always very concerned regarding the health of the French!

An investigation by Lilya Melkonian, Claire Vérove, Francis Simoes and Olivier Broutin.

The editorial staff of “Complément d’investigation” invites you to comment on the program on Facebook or on Twitter with the hashtag #ComplementDenquete.

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Among our sources

– The Hospital Patients Health and Territories law (HPST) of July 21, 2009, known as the Bachelot law.

– The ordinance signed by Agnès Buzyn in 2018: decree no. 2018-143 of February 27, 2018 relating to health centers, the Guide relating to health centers, the law on “Health establishments and services” of the Code of public health (March 2024).

– The Khattabi law of May 19, 2023 “aimed at improving the supervision of health centers”.

– User support association: La Dent bleue.

– Professional organizations: the National Federation of Health Centers, the National Union of Ophthalmologists of France.

Press articles
– “The director of a health group suspected of ‘embezzlement of public funds’”, Investigation unit of Radio France, April 20, 2023.
– “The boss of Cosem health centers suspected of personal enrichment”, The world20 avril 2023.
– “Health centers under the pressure of numbers”, Economic alternatives20 avril 2023.

Non-exhaustive list.

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#investigation #Health #centers #profits #prescription