French Idiosyncratic Health-Care Reforms, Performance Management and Its Political Repercussions

CONTEXT: France has undergone major changes in social policy that made an impact on the health-care sector. The paper reminds readers of the application and shortcomings of the concept of New Public Management (NPM) in the French health system. PROBLEM: The paper investigates NPM health reforms in France. Reforms aimed at containing costs. What administrative restructuring was implemented? What were reform idiosyncrasies? What were their limitations? Which critical public health emergencies remain? METHODS: We examine the political and economic context of health-care reforms, the rise of the regulatory state, and its core element: the diagnostic-related group (DRG) scale. We critically examine the recentralization of health policy decisions and its impact on care providers and provide an international perspective on reforms. RESULTS: Reforms put priority on the use of yardsticks and also emphasized regulation and competition but rejected public–private partnerships on the Anglo-Saxon model. Central health authorities regain their authority over health policy decisions, and decentralization was weakened. CONCLUSION: Restrictions in public service delivery triggered a general discontent among the population. The political repercussions of reforms eventually crystallized into the Yellow Vest movement.