medical transport authorisation

[frenchdc]

I am going into hospital in Bordeaux next week and have asked CPAM by prescription on 20/09/2013 for authorisation to go by taxi as it is over 150Km away. As yet I have received nothing back. Does anyone know what is the procedure for booking and paying for a taxi in this scenario.

 Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[Benjamin]

The best people to ask are the ambulance/taxi company.

In general you obtain the reclaim forms from the person referring you for treatment in the first place.

This would normally be your French doctor but if, as sounds the case for you, it's probably a hospital specialist then you would get the reclaim forms from them or their secretarial staff.

We've never used a taxi but I could imagine in such a case the taxi company would take the paperwork from you and deal directly with CPAM.

[mint]

Yes, I know about this because NormanH advised me on this fairly recently.

Normally it is your own doctor (medecin traitant) who will give you the "bon de transport".

But, you can also ask the consultant's secretariat to provide this.  They will take your details and get the consultant (specialist) to sign the form to say you need to be transported.

In our case, they sent the form to us but, in the end, I decided not to claim as I got up enough courage to take my OH there myself and it only involved the petrol and the return trip was under 100 km.

Hope this helps.

[frenchdc]

I have used my own car before and as the distance is over 150km normally I receive a letter saying that "la prise en charge est accordee" along with an expense form, but so far for the hospital entry have received nothing. I have always asked the specialist for the bon de transport and then filled in the expense form afterwards. This will be different as it will be quite expensive, how do I pay ?? I just want to know what the procedure is.

regards

dc

[mogs]

I frequently have a VSL for visits to the hospital (as an ALD patient), the journey is more than 300 kms return. I always ask the hospital for the bon de transport on my arrival, but my taxi firm are used to this and are quite happy to take me without me giving them a form when I get into the car. They ask for no money from me.

I never pay anything, it is always direct between taxi firm and CPAM. I used to use a different taxi firm and it was always the same, direct from them to CPAM so please don't worry, I'm sure it will be the same.

[NormanH]

They are tightening up on this a lot.

If you have regular return visits you can ask at the Hospital, but technically it should be the Doctor who has referred you (your GP for example) who decides the reasons why you need transport, such as your general state of health.

I know that the situation other posters have described is how things are often done, but as I say it is tightening up, and at my last check up in Montpellier the nurse who gave me the bon de transport said that as my next visit is more than 6 months away I should get authorisation from my GP beforehand.

I would give the Doctor who is sending you a ring just to check, or as Benjamin said ask the VSL firm in advance.

[frenchdc]

update- I rang taxi ambulance who told me to ring CPAM who eventually faxed the permission to the taxi company. Only took 5 phone calls in my very best french with loads of "parlez lentement svp" every 10 seconds. Still all is booked but a piece of advice to you all, do not put more than 1 request in an envelope, they just can't cope. Thank you to all who have responded.

regards

dc

[mint]

Well done, dc, and good luck with your consultation!