French radiologists Sound Alarm Over €300 Million Imaging budget Cuts
Paris, France – French radiologists are voicing serious concerns over a unilateral decision by the national health insurance fund, caisse Nationale de l’Assurance Maladie (CNAM), to cut imaging expenses by €300 million. The cuts,set to take effect November 5th,are being described as a devastating blow to patient care and a concerning shift towards prioritizing financial savings over public health.
“This is dramatic for our country,” stated Dr.Franck Clarot, a member of the National Federation of Radiologists (FNMR) and trade unionist. “Attacking public health for purely financial reasons… seemed inconceivable to us, but Health Insurance did it. I am very sad, and I am very afraid for patients’ access to care.”
The CNAM, led by General Director Thomas Fatôme, announced the cuts in a letter to medical unions last Thursday, expressing regret that a negotiated agreement couldn’t be reached. However, radiologists claim the process lacked genuine negotiation.
“We didn’t have any negotiations per se,” explained Dr. Jean-Philippe Masson, president of the FNMR. “The radiologists were interviewed… then we had several meetings which were presentation meetings, and not work meetings. No one sat around a table to think about the numbers.”
The proposed cuts disproportionately target “technical packages” – essential components of manny imaging procedures - with a planned 12.5% reduction in 2026 and again in 2027, applied to already declining rates. A 6% reduction in the radiological coefficient (Z) is also planned.
Impact on Patient Care
Radiologists warn the cuts will considerably impact patient care, especially for those requiring multiple imaging tests. The new pricing structure will effectively make all but the first two imaging acts fully unpaid,forcing patients to return for additional scans.
“When we have rheumatic assessments to do with X-rays of the skull, spine, shoulders, hands… The first two acts will be paid and the rest will be for glory,” dr. Masson lamented,drawing a pointed comparison to other service industries. Dr. Clarot expressed concern for patients who rely on medical transport,questioning how they will manage multiple trips.
The cuts also highlight what radiologists are calling the “schizophrenia of CNAM,” citing examples like being urged to increase mammogram screenings while concurrently reducing funding for mammography and breast ultrasound procedures.
The FNMR and other medical unions unanimously rejected the proposed protocol, but the CNAM has indicated it will proceed with the price reductions nonetheless. The situation remains fluid, but the concerns raised by French radiologists paint a grim picture for the future of diagnostic imaging and patient access to vital healthcare services.
Keywords: France, Healthcare, Radiology, Health Insurance, CNAM, Budget Cuts, Medical Imaging, Patient Care, Public Health, Medical Unions, FNMR, Thomas Fatôme, jean-Philippe Masson, Franck Clarot.
