Health. How to change treating doctor?

The device of attending physician was established by law in 2004, as part of what is called the coordinated care pathway. It therefore consists of choosing a doctor who sees himself thus “ entrust the coordination of care for your medical follow-up », Explains Health Insurance.

On the form, “ the appointment of a treating physician is not obligatory. It results from a voluntary approach by the insured who must request the formal agreement of the practitioner whom he has chosen to designate to Health Insurance as such. », recalls for its part, the Court of Auditors.

Penalties…

However, if you do not follow this treatment plan, you will be less reimbursed. Illustration on the ameli.fr website: “ for a consultation with a general practitioner approved in sector 1, at the rate of 26.50 euros: if you do not have a registered GP, Health Insurance will only reimburse you 30% of the consultation price, less €2 for the fixed contribution, i.e. a reimbursement of 5.95 euros (compared to 16.55 euros otherwise) “.

How to declare?

In practice, the declaration of choice of the attending physician can be made during a consultation at the office and upon presentation of your Vitale card. The doctor thus makes the declaration online, before transmitting it to your primary health insurance fund (CPAM).

Change without justifying yourself

The law of course provides for the possibility of changing treating doctor. And this, very easily, without needing to justify oneself. Concretely, you can do this directly in the office, with your new treating doctor.

Or after the latter’s agreement of course, by sending a new declaration to your CPAM in order to make the change. This is precisely the form S3704 Declaration of choice of the attending physician.

Finally, note that if your attending physician works in a group practice, in the absence of the healthcare professional, you can consult another doctor from the practice in question, “ without penalty on the amount of your reimbursements », Specifies Health Insurance.

“ Colleagues have the possibility of billing as a replacement, indicating ‘replaced attending physician’ on the care sheet. », she adds.