To put an end to the “windfall effect” of vaccination for health professionals, the French health insurance system has introduced a fixed fee per session since April 15.
The coronavirus epidemic is not only hurting people. It has allowed some big pharmaceutical laboratories that have developed an anti-Covid vaccine to make super profits in record time. And it’s not over yet, since some laboratories, like Pfizer, recommend injecting a third dose to ensure good protection against SARS-CoV-2 and even a small booster shot every year. You can never be too careful!
The big laboratories are not the only ones to benefit from this unexpected windfall. Medical laboratories have been filling up since the beginning of the epidemic.
300,000 injections per day!
The mass vaccination implemented in many countries of the world is also a boon for health professionals. In France, after a period of hesitation, the health authorities have decided to move up a gear and set up vaccination centers on an industrial scale.
As a result, by mid-April 2021, nearly 12 million people had received at least a first dose of vaccine and 4.2 million had received two doses, according to Covid-Traker’s count.
That’s an average of 300,000 injections per day, more than half of which are given at the vaccine clinics! To keep up this pace, doctors, nurses, dentists, veterinarians, pharmacists, midwives, health students, etc. had to be called upon. It was even necessary to call upon retired people.
And we have to pay them. On what basis? It all depends on the status of the “vaccinator”.
Until April 15, 2021, the health insurance system billed doctors on a fee-for-service basis. First, a pre-consultation (25 euros) and then 5.40 € for the injection and registration in the national file Vaccin Covid-19. That is to say 30.40 € for each patient candidate for vaccination. Obviously the rates increase over the weekend: € 44.60 for each patient.
In the vaccination centers, doctors vaccinate a lot. That is the goal. At fifteen patients per hour, the doctors were making a nice bill of €1,800 for the four hours of work, renewable during the day. And much more on weekends.
Flat rate vacation
The Health Insurance, which pays all these people, has decided to review its rates. It wanted to correct a “windfall effect”.
Since April 15, 2021, there is only one mode of remuneration: the flat-rate remuneration per session. This fixed session is remunerated at 420 € per half day or 105 € per hour if the presence is less than 4 hours (each started hour being due, for example 1 hour 30 minutes of presence can be charged 2 hours).
On Saturday afternoons, Sundays and holidays, the fixed fee is raised to 460 € per half day (or 115 € per hour if presence of less than 4 hours). This is quite normal.
For other health professionals who participate in the vaccination effort, the rates are different depending on the status of the “vaccinator”.
The Health Insurance lists and pays health professionals:
- A retired doctor, with no activity, will receive €50 per hour between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., €75 between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., and €100 at night and on weekends.
- Nurses, 24, 36 and 48 € depending on these same hours, midwives, 38, 48 and 64 €.
- Veterinarians, whether they are active or not, are paid on a session basis 160 € per half-day of activity lasting at least four hours and 180 € per half-day of activity performed on Saturday afternoon, Sunday and holidays. In case of intervention of less than four hours, the fixed price is equal to 40 € per hour or 45 € on Saturday afternoon, Sunday and holidays.
- As for nursing students who have validated their first year of training and first cycle medical students from the second year, they will have to make do with 12, 18 and 24 euros for the same job.