The deputies voted on Wednesday in favor of stricter supervision of health centers, and in particular of prior approval of the ARS for those who provide dental or ophthalmological care.

At the origin of Fadila Khattabi's bill (Renaissance), the "serious shortcomings" of "certain centers", and the "Dentexia in 2015" scandals (low-cost dental centers liquidated after numerous complaints from patients) and “Proxidentaire in 2021” (dozens of patients had denounced ill-treatment, mutilation and financial abuse).

It is not "in any way to cast opprobrium on all the centres", insisted the president of the Social Affairs Commission, but "ill-intentioned people" wanted to "create cash machines without care about the quality of care”.

Adopted with 161 votes

Its text, supported by the government and adopted with 161 votes in favor and none against (18 abstentions), provides that centers wishing to open and offer dental or ophthalmic care must first submit a "health plan", "declarations of links and conflicts of interest” of their governing body, and the “contracts linking (their) managing body to third-party companies”, in order to benefit from ARS approval.

It would be temporary (one year) and would only be made permanent after a compliance visit.

The establishments will have to submit to the ARS and to the regional order of doctors or dental surgeons the contracts and diplomas of the caregivers hired.

Existing centers would have six months to apply for approval concerning their dental and ophthalmological care.

After a period of two years following the possible promulgation of the law, no center could offer this type of care without approval.

There were 2,544 health centers in France in 2021 according to Health Insurance.

Several deputies called on the government on Wednesday to strengthen the ARS so that they can carry out the missions entrusted by this text, which must be examined by the Senate.

Risk of "inequality with liberal practitioners"

It also provides for the creation of a “medical committee” which would be “responsible for each center for the quality and safety of care” and would regularly report to the ARS.

Sanctions are also provided for or reinforced against center managers who fail to fulfill their obligations.

“We are for the philosophy of this law”, explained to AFP the presidency of the union Union of dental health centers, which remains “concerned” by a risk of “inequality with liberal practitioners”, and by the deadlines to obtain approvals.

According to Agnès Firmin Le Bodo, Minister Delegate in charge of Territorial Organization and Health Professions "more than 50 dental centers are subject to checks for suspicion of fraud".

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