France's Constitutional Council Rejects 'No-Show' Medical Appointment Penalty

The measure, aimed at deterring missed appointments, was struck down for insufficient legal safeguards and potential barriers to healthcare access.

The Constitutional Council invalidated the proposed 'taxe lapin,' a penalty for patients who miss medical appointments without notice.
The measure required pre-authorized bank payments but was deemed inadequately defined and insufficiently regulated to meet constitutional standards.
Critics, including deputies from La France Insoumise (LFI), argued the penalty could disproportionately impact those lacking access to digital payment systems.
The Council also annulled unrelated provisions in the social security budget, including a controversial transfer of 1,500 medical advisors to local authorities.
This ruling concludes a contentious legislative process for the 2025 social security budget, which earlier led to the fall of the Barnier government.