Mon soutien psy direct billing: a practical guide for psychologists since 1 October 2026

Direct billing under Mon soutien psy (in French, tiers payant) is the mechanism by which a contracted psychologist is paid directly by the Assurance Maladie, France's national health insurance, for the share it covers, so the patient does not pay that amount upfront. Since 1 October 2026, it applies to the statutory share of every session in the scheme, not only for some patients. The law leaves the details to a decree.

For an overview of the scheme in 2026 (12 sessions, 50 euros, direct access, the agreement), read Mon soutien psy in 2026. For the patient and top-up insurer side, see reimbursement for a psychologist session. Quotations from French texts below are our translation.

What the texts say

The law

Article L162-58 of the Social Security Code, in the version in force since 1 October 2026 (amended by article 56 of Law no. 2025-1403 of 30 December 2025), adds a point 4° bis. It gives a decree of the Conseil d'État the task of setting "the rules for applying direct billing to the share of expenses covered by the statutory health insurance schemes" for these sessions. The same article states that "fees above the set rate cannot be charged for covered sessions" (our translation).

The French government website (info.gouv.fr, page "Ce qui change en octobre 2026") states that from 1 October, direct billing applies to every Mon soutien psy session. The patient no longer pays upfront the share covered by the Assurance Maladie. Until then, this payment method was limited to certain categories of patients.

The standard agreement of June 2026

An order (arrêté) of 17 June 2026 (Journal officiel of 19 June 2026) replaced the standard agreement that psychologists in the scheme sign. Its article 6 sets the billing rules. It provides for mandatory full direct billing for people covered by the Complémentaire santé solidaire (CSS, means-tested top-up cover) or state medical aid (AME), for pregnant women, and for sessions linked to a long-term condition (ALD) or to a work accident or occupational disease (AT-MP). In these cases, no money can be asked of the patient.

What is still unclear

• The decree provided for in 4° bis. We did not find it on the official websites we checked on 20 October 2026.
• The practical procedure for patients outside full direct billing. The June 2026 agreement does not mention 1 October, and the ameli.fr pages for psychologists that we read do not yet describe this change.
• Direct billing of the top-up share. No text we read provides for it.

We advise you to check the current procedure with your local CPAM (health insurance fund).

Who is concerned?

The scheme covers psychologists working in private practice, in a health centre or in a multidisciplinary practice, who have been selected and have signed an agreement with the fund where they work (L162-58, I). Without an agreement, the psychologist sets their own fees and this direct billing does not apply. The agreement states that this activity is not exclusive: you can also see patients at your own rates, without coverage.

On the patient side, there are two situations.

• Mandatory full direct billing (CSS, AME, pregnancy, ALD, AT-MP): the patient pays nothing upfront. For maternity, ameli.fr refers to coverage from the 6th month of pregnancy.
• Other patients: since 1 October 2026, direct billing covers the Assurance Maladie share. The patient pays only the remainder.

How much is the psychologist paid, and by whom?

According to ameli.fr, every session is billed at 50 euros: one assessment interview (code EEP), then 1 to 11 follow-up sessions (code APS in person, PSS remotely). The Assurance Maladie covers 60% of the fee, that is 30 euros, and the top-up insurer (mutuelle) 40% depending on the patient's contract.

• Statutory share (30 euros): paid straight to the psychologist by the patient's fund.
• Top-up share (20 euros): paid by the patient, who then claims it from their mutuelle. If you want to bill some mutuelles directly, arrange it with them.
• Full coverage: according to the ameli.fr FAQ, this applies in the mandatory direct billing situations.
• Alsace-Moselle: according to ameli.fr, coverage there reaches 90% (60% Assurance Maladie, 30% local scheme).

How to bill, step by step

1. What the patient shows

The agreement provides that the patient shows their Carte Vitale (physical card or mobile app) or, failing that, an up-to-date Carte Vitale certificate (attestation de carte Vitale). However, the ameli.fr page for insured people (16 September 2026) says the Carte Vitale cannot yet be used at a psychologist's practice, and asks for the paper certificate. If the session is linked to an ALD, maternity or a work accident, ameli.fr also asks for a letter from the health professional stating that link.

2. Check entitlement

You can check entitlement with the certificate or with the "Info Patients" service on amelipro, using the social security number. With SESAM-Vitale approved software, the agreement also mentions the ADRi service.

3. Make out the claim form

The agreement provides two routes.

• Paper: the psychologist claim form (feuille de soins) supplied by the fund (ordered on amelipro or from the CPAM, according to ameli.fr), signed by the patient and by you, after each session or at the end of the support.
• Electronic: an electronic claim form (FSE) with SESAM-Vitale approved software and a health professional card (CPS), sent to you after you sign the agreement. The software is your free choice, at your own cost. The cost of the CPS is covered by the Assurance Maladie for the term of the agreement.

4. Send it and get paid

With direct billing, you send the claim form to the patient's fund. The ameli.fr FAQ specifies that it is not handed to the patient, "to avoid double payment" (our translation). The fund then pays you directly. For electronic claims without upfront payment, the agreement provides for a transfer order within seven working days at most after the positive logical acknowledgement of receipt (ARL). It also guarantees payment of the statutory share based on the entitlement held in the Carte Vitale on the date of care. The texts we read give no time limit for paper forms.

Rules that do not change

• No extra fees, no surcharges, no travel costs. According to ameli.fr, a fee above 50 euros leads to the claim form being rejected.
• Assessment interview in person. Remote follow-up is by video only, with the patient's consent.
• Remote sessions: at most 20% of the psychologist's total annual contracted activity, not per patient.
• One session per day for the same patient, and no billing if the patient does not attend.
• Cap: one assessment interview and 11 follow-up sessions, that is 12 sessions per year per patient.

Minors with a long-term condition

Section III of article L162-58 removes the session cap for a minor with certain long-term conditions, within a care protocol. The ameli.fr care pathway page specifies that this excludes ALD 23. Since these sessions are linked to an ALD, they fall under mandatory full direct billing. We advise keeping in the file the letter that establishes the link with the ALD.

Care team and the link with the doctor

The psychologist chosen by the patient belongs to their care team (L162-58, I, which refers to article L1110-12 of the Public Health Code). Sharing is limited to information strictly necessary for coordination or continuity of care. According to ameli.fr, the psychologist may send an end-of-support report to the doctor following the patient. This is an option, not an obligation. Our psychologist letter to GP template can serve as a starting point.

What direct billing changes for your practice

Part of your fees now comes from the fund. We advise you to:

• keep a count of scheme sessions per patient and per year;
• note the format of each session (in person or remote), to track the 20% limit;
• track claim forms sent and payments received, to spot a rejection;
• check entitlement at the start of the support, then whenever the patient's situation changes;
• tell the patient, when they book, what to bring and what they will pay themselves.

These points belong in your practice management or billing tool. They work alongside session notes kept throughout the support. See our session notes template.

Where Delta fits

Delta does not do billing, electronic claims or direct billing. For Mon soutien psy direct billing, you use the claim form or the billing tool of your choice.

Delta is the clinical assistant for mental health and allied health professionals. You use it alongside, for the clinical side: during the session it transcribes what is said, or after the session you dictate your observations. It generates the session report (short summary, detailed summary, topics for the next session) and updates the patient file, so the whole support can be found in one place. It also drafts letters, certificates and assessments. See our clinical document templates.

Sources

• French Social Security Code, article L162-58, version in force since 1 October 2026 (Légifrance), and article L1110-12 of the Public Health Code.
• Order of 17 June 2026 amending the order of 2 March 2022 setting the standard agreement for the scheme, Journal officiel of 19 June 2026, annex, article 6 (Légifrance, in French).
• info.gouv.fr, Ce qui change en octobre 2026 (in French), published 24 September 2026.
• Ameli.fr, pages for psychologists (in French): billing rules with direct billing (19 September 2025), patient care pathway (16 September 2026), Mon soutien psy FAQ (25 March 2025).
• Ameli.fr, reimbursement of psychologist sessions (in French), page for insured people, 16 September 2026.

Pages consulted on 20 October 2026. Quotations are our translation.