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Healthcare authorities

Reducing the out-of-pocket costs for patients with MS and their caregivers

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic condition which is covered 100% by Health insurance in France. However, patients and caregivers still bear direct and indirect expenses: home adaptation in case of wheelchair usage, buying medical materials, transportation, home care services… No doubt, this has a considerable impact on patients’ and caregivers’ buying power, especially for those who find themselves in a tenuous financial situation.

In order to better assess the costs that affect the daily lives of thousands of patients, Carenity conducted a study in partnership with the French League against Multiple Sclerosis (la Ligue Française contre la Sclérose En Plaques). 70% out of more than four hundred patients and caregivers who took the survey, showed their dissatisfaction and discouragement. The results were presented before the deputies on October 24, 2017. Since then, their mission has been to reduce the burden of “out-of-pocket expenses” and to improve the quality of life of patients suffering with MS and of their caregivers.

Equality of access to innovation in oncology

Cancer diagnosis and the following medical care are overwhelming events that are able to upend the life of patients and their relatives and friends. Therapeutic innovations offer much hope. But how can we allow access to these innovative treatments more fairly? More than two hundred patients and caregivers took part in this study, focusing on how much coordination, multidisciplinarity and dialogue are essential for better care.

Their answers allowed the launch of a debate held in eight French cities between October 2015 and March 2016, as part of the 3rd Plan Cancer. A white paper was issued following these debates and was introduced on September 27, 2016 during the conference “The new perspectives of cancer care: the regions have their ideas”. Twelve recommendations were listed in this document, including the development of the Observatory of access to innovations, and the increase of outpatient services in order to improve healthcare system efficiency.

Improving care pathway for patients with chronic conditions

Daily life of patients affected by a chronic illness is often concentrated around medical appointments and hospital visits. Carenity asked more than 1,700 members about the relationship between their hospital and their primary care physician. Patients highlighted the hospital teams’ lack of information on their medical history, as well as certain drawbacks in communication with their physician, and a poor quality of the follow-up care after hospitalisation. These findings were discussed during the inaugural session of the Entretiens de Bichat on October 8, 2015, a congress that reunites physicians and scientists.

Improving autonomy for patients receiving home care services

Home care services are offered to a million and a half patients every day. For the occasion of the 6th National Week of home care services that took place in December, 2016, Carenity conducted a study on autonomy and mobility in partnership with the Federation of Home Care Providers. The results were somewhat discouraging: 67% of patients receiving home care services reported having decided to stay at home because of their illness. Yet, it is essential for the chronic patients’ morale to go out, travel, work and see their family and friends.

The Federation of Home care Providers developed a Mobility Chart, which included seven criterea, such as: assessing mobility solutions adapted to patients’ needs, preparing mobility projects and facilitating care abroad with the help of partners, etc.