It was one of the associations’ requests. Tests for the detection of the monkeypox virus will be reimbursed 100% by health insurance, an order was announced on Saturday July 30. Official newspaper. This decision was taken in the wake of a recommendation to this effect from the High Authority for Health.
“The development of the monkeypox epidemic implies being able to confirm cases of infection in the absence of a sufficiently explicit clinical picture” and nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) (a technique that includes PCR testing) “allows to confirm infections”underlines this decree. “These screening tests should therefore be covered by health insurance”continues the text.
A clinical diagnosis before any test
On Monday, the High Authority for Health had come out in favor of reimbursement by health insurance for the tests, after being seized by the Ministry of Health on the question.
The High Authority for Health had recalled that the diagnosis is based first on the examination and questioning of the patient, specifying that “Detection by NAAT test should only be carried out in the event of persistent doubt after clinical examination” for “confirm or not” the infection.
“The use of this type of test is thus limited to “suspected cases” and “possible cases”, as defined by Public Health France and is not necessary in the absence of symptoms”had specified the health authority.