To use the health system in France patients use a photo identity card, called a Carte Vitale.
The card has on it an embedded microchip which contains a patient's social security number, enabling automatic payment for treatment.
Without the card, patients are required to pay the health professional directly and obtain a receipt (feuille de soins), which is submitted to the local health authority for reimbursement.
After local trials this year, the government have now introduced an ‘e-carte Vitale’.
It comes in the form of a smartphone app, called l’ApCV, which can be downloaded via the government portal 'France Connect'.
However, despite the fanfare of a recent major launch, the app is not available all over the country. It will be rolled out between now and the end of 2025.
Once downloaded, users enter their social security number and upload a selfie, plus a photo of their ID card.
After compliance checks have been completed the plastic health card is deactivated.
Patients cannot have both the app and the plastic health card. It is one or the other.
The government have stated that use of the app will not be compulsory and the existing plastic card will remain in use, at least for the time being.
As with the plastic version, the e-carte-Vitale can pay GPs, hospitals and pharmacies, provided they have either NFC contactless payment system or a QR code reader.
For patients with complementary health cover (a 'mutuelle'), where the health provider uses the system of ‘tiers payant’ payments will be processed automatically, as is currently the case.
The application automatically downloads receipts for payments, up to 7 days after they are made. After this period, they become inaccessible. Once downloaded, the receipts are permanently available.
The introduction of the app follows on from the digitalisation of medical records and prescriptions.
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