New paper form required for sick leave in health matters

Fraud related to sick leave represents a major challenge for Social Security and all healthcare stakeholders. In the face of a notable increase in false leave cases, notably with a financial damage highlighted at over 30 million euros in 2024, Health Insurance has taken decisive action to strengthen the document security of sick leaves. This critical context has led to the implementation of a new secure and approved paper form Cerfa, whose use will become mandatory from July 2025, with a tolerance period until September. This measure aims not only to guarantee the authenticity of documents but also to protect employees’ rights, the interests of health mutuals, and the credibility of the public health system.

Alongside the development of digital transmission tools, particularly via Ameli and the Primary Health Insurance Fund (CPAM), this new form represents a significant evolution, especially for situations where electronic use is impossible. This change will directly impact healthcare professionals, employers, and insured individuals, requiring quick adaptation and better consideration of new security constraints.

This system, defined by decree n°2025-587 of June 28, 2025, introduces a detailed technical specifications document, incorporating anti-fraud elements and secure marking. The Regional Health Agency (ARS) and the Ministry of Health support this reform to ensure a smooth transition for all involved actors. The following synthetic information explores in detail the implications, characteristics, and application methods of the new paper sick leave form, marking a key turning point in the administrative management of sick leaves and other health-related absences.

The fundamental reasons for the reform of the paper sick leave form

Combating fraud related to sick leave is a major issue for Social Security and, more broadly, for Public Service. In 2024, detected fraud has exploded, with financial damage exceeding 30 million euros, compared to 8 million in 2023, according to the Primary Health Insurance Fund (CPAM). This significant increase is largely attributable to the sale of fake sick leaves on the internet and social networks, as pointed out by various experts and official agencies.

Faced with this critical situation, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Health Insurance, has decided to adopt a determined action aimed at further securing documents used in sick leave and other health-related absences. The new authorized paper Cerfa form incorporates several sophisticated measures to counter fraudulent practices while maintaining the ease of use necessary for healthcare professionals and employees.

The limitations of previous paper forms

• Ease of copying and falsification 📄
• Acceptance of scanned or photocopied versions, without guaranteed authenticity 🖨️
• Possible usurpation of signatures and stamps, with significant financial consequences 💸
• Major difficulties faced by CPAM in controlling and validating these documents 👓
• Loss of trust between healthcare professionals, employers, and insurance organizations

These vulnerabilities necessitated the development of a form with strengthened standards, likely to be difficult to falsify, enabling rigorous verification while fitting into existing automated administrative processes. This aims to substantially reduce the risk of fraud exceeding acceptable levels on sick leave.

A renewed legislative and regulatory framework

• Decree n°2025-587 of June 28, 2025, mandating the implementation of the new Cerfa form 🏛️
• Effective obligation from July 1, 2025, with a tolerance period until September 1 🚨
• Ban on older versions, as well as non-compliant prints, scans, or photocopies 📅
• Enhanced controls by the Health Insurance Funds and improved traceability 🕵️‍♂️
• Encouragement to use the online service via Ameli for professionals able to transmit electronically 🌐

It should be noted that these measures are part of a larger effort to improve the management and authenticity of sick leaves. In this context, the Ministry of Health urges close coordination among Treating Physicians, ARS, CPAM, and employers to facilitate the implementation of these new procedures.

The technical features of the new secure Cerfa form

The introduction of the secure Cerfa form for paper sick leaves is a major step forward in combating fraud. This approved document is designed to be difficult to duplicate, incorporating several technical elements that guarantee its authenticity. These measures are specifically defined by Health Insurance and validated by the Ministry of Health.

Security elements integrated into the paper form

• Support printed on special paper: this paper contains fibers and a finish that is difficult to reproduce identically to prevent fraudulent copies.
• Holographic label: a hologram sticker providing visible protection, hard to forge.
• Magnetic ink: embedded in specific zones, allowing secure electronic recognition and preventing reproduction through standard colorimetry.
• Clear and secure identification of the prescriber: the Treating Physician must add personalized identification elements, such as a professional number, facilitating verifications.
• A unique serial number: each form has a unique identifier to trace authenticity and usage, linked to the CPAM databases.

This combination of measures thus allows increased control by Health Insurance organizations. Manual processing is made more secure, and prioritizing the use of transmission via Ameli remains recommended when possible to enhance security.

Availability and distribution of the new paper forms

The form is only accessible via order from CPAM services or through the amelipro platform, dedicated to healthcare professionals. This measure strictly regulates distribution to limit diversion risks.

• Centralized orders on amelipro by healthcare establishments or clinics
• Distribution under the supervision of regional health agencies (ARS) and primary health insurance funds
• Allocation to authorized healthcare professionals for distribution to patients requiring paper sick leave
• Training and informing doctors to properly understand how to use this new form

With this organization, Health Insurance ensures better stock and flow management of forms, limiting uncontrolled access and strengthening the security of the system. Examples from ARS highlight the territorial coordination necessary for the success of this policy.

Impact on healthcare professionals and employers regarding the new sick leave form

The deployment of the new paper form significantly changes the practices of Treating Physicians, administrative services, and employers. These actors must adapt to a strengthened framework with clear objectives: document reliability and active fraud prevention.

Implications for prescribing doctors

• Obligation to use exclusively the new secure paper Cerfa form when electronic transmission is impossible
• Necessity to stockforms via amelipro or local CPAM
• Strict adherence to filling instructions to avoid invalidation
• Anticipating stock shortages in coordination with ARS and health facilities
• Increased participation in active fraud prevention, with enhanced responsibility

Implications for employers and HR services

Companies and their HR services must now:

• Accept only sick leave certificates with the new secure Cerfa form
• Immediately reject scanned, photocopied, or non-secure older versions
• Update internal verification procedures in coordination with CPAM and health mutuals
• Train and sensitize staff to detect non-compliant documents
• Ensure compliance with legal deadlines for reporting sick leaves to Social Security

This framework prevents fraud and facilitates proper management of health-related absences, while ensuring a trusting environment between employees, employers, and social organizations. It also contributes to optimizing sick leave management within specific training modules on optimization and duration of absences, accessible via platforms like Aide BTS Assurance.

Fight against fraud in sick leave with the new secure form

Fraud related to sick leave has increased in recent years, with organized networks exploiting weaknesses in old paper forms. The rise of illegal digital platforms selling fake sick leaves prompted an urgent spotlight on this phenomenon by CPAM and Social Security.

Recent fraud figures and mechanisms detected

Year 📅	Estimated damage (in M€) 💶	Main fraud channel 🔎	Key consequences
2023	8	Social media and internet	Moderate increase, heightened awareness
2024	30+	Online platforms selling fake certificates	Major crisis, strengthened measures

In response to this situation, Health Insurance prioritized the implementation of strict corrective measures, including the adoption of a paper form that is difficult to divert. This proactive choice is praised by health sector actors, highlighting the importance of this tool in combating identity theft and document falsification.

Additional tools to limit fraud

• Prioritization of sick leave transmission through Ameli, identified as the most secure method 🌐
• Enhanced verification controls of documents received by CPAM and health mutuals 🕵️‍♂️
• Training doctors on best practices for issuing validated sick leaves ✔️
• Awareness campaigns within companies and among employees 📢
• Close collaboration with law enforcement to detect illicit networks

This coordinated system is essential to reversing this upward trend and maintaining the financial viability of the healthcare system while protecting the legitimate rights of insured individuals.

Practical procedures for using the new paper sick leave form

The procedures for using the new secure Cerfa form are clearly outlined by Health Insurance and CPAM. The transition involves an adaptation period but also specific instructions to ensure the validity of sick leave notices transmitted in paper format.

Specific cases of using the paper form

• Home visits when electronic transmission is not feasible or technically difficult 🏠
• Patients without access to necessary digital equipment for electronic transmission
• Urgent situations or areas with no connectivity in rural or isolated territories 🌄
• Temporary cases causing technical impossibility of digital transmission
• Explicit requests from certain insured individuals preferring paper documents for personal reasons

Procedures for transmission and validation by CPAM

Step 🏷️	Detailed description	Responsible 🧑‍⚕️
Filling out the form	Must contain all prescribed elements, with signature and Treatment Physician’s number	Treating Physician
Providing to the patient	The patient receives the original secure paper form	Physician
Sending to employer	The patient transmits the document to their employer within legal deadlines	Insured
Transmission to CPAM	The employer or insured must send the form to the insurance fund	Insured or employer
Verification and registration	CPAM verifies validity through embedded security elements and records the leave	CPAM

These detailed procedures help avoid unjustified rejections and ensure proper recognition of the leaves, facilitating smooth administrative processing for insured individuals, employers, and healthcare professionals. To learn more about all the modalities related to sick leave, it is recommended to consult resources provided by Public Service and Ameli.

Legal consequences and sanctions related to fraudulent use of sick leave

The discovery of a false sick leave leads to serious consequences for both the employee and involved professionals. Health Insurance and Social Security, in coordination with judicial authorities, have established a strict legal framework to strengthen penalties for infractions related to falsified documents.

Main sanctions provided

• Suspend daily allowances in case of well-founded suspicion of fraud 💰
• Criminal proceedings that may result in fines or imprisonment for false document usage 🏛️
• Disciplinary sanctions within the company, potentially leading to dismissal for serious misconduct
• Obligation to reimburse unjustly received compensations from CPAM
• Loss of certain social rights for repeat offenders

Beyond sanctions, these measures demonstrate the commitment of health agencies to preserve trust in the system and protect the legitimate interests of insured persons. They also emphasize the importance for Treating Physicians and employers to fully understand the new constraints to avoid administrative complications.

Control procedures during sick leave

• Implementation of regular verifications by CPAM, especially targeted at high-risk cases
• Use of field investigations and reinforced medical controls by ARS
• Use of digital technologies to analyze sick leave elements and detect anomalies
• Cooperation between health mutuals and Social Security to cross-reference information
• Reporting to judicial authorities for proven fraud

These procedures are essential to ensuring exemplary health management. It should be noted that dedicated training sessions are offered to Treating Physicians and healthcare sector professionals to prevent errors and fraud in issuing sick leaves.

Developments and future outlook for digital and paper management of sick leaves

In light of fraud issues, Health Insurance strongly encourages digitization, particularly via online services like Ameli. Nevertheless, coexistence with the secure paper form remains a necessary compromise given various on-field constraints.

Advances in the digitalization of sick leave

• Gradual expansion of transmission via telehealth by healthcare professionals
• Enhancement of digital platforms to simplify and secure exchanges between Treating Physicians, patients, employers, and CPAM
• Development of artificial intelligence to identify online fraud through detection algorithms
• Ongoing training of users on best digital practices
• Real-time reporting of anomalies through an integrated system linking health mutuals, CPAM, and the Ministry of Health

Challenges of maintaining the secure paper form

Despite the growth of digital technologies, several cases require the use of paper documents, especially in areas with limited digital access or during unforeseen situations. This support guarantees universal access to rights and continuity of care without administrative barriers.

The Ministry of Health, with ARS support, is working towards progressively harmonizing transmission methods to optimize sick leave management while maximizing surveillance against document fraud. This dual system remains a priority for the ongoing healthcare reform in the coming years.

Practical information for insured individuals and frequently asked questions about the new sick leave form

For insured individuals, it is important to understand the new procedures regarding the transmission of paper sick leaves, the required modalities, and potential risks associated with non-compliance. Communications from Health Insurance and Public Service aim to facilitate this transition according to clear rules.

Tips for effectively using the new form

• Verify that the paper form is original, with all security elements visible ✅
• Do not accept photocopies or scans for sick leave certificates ❌
• Respect transmission deadlines to employers and CPAM ⏳
• If in doubt, contact the Primary Health Insurance Fund or consult Ameli for verification
• Prefer transmission via Ameli when possible to ensure digital security

Common questions and answers

Question ❓	Answer ✅
What should I do if I receive a paper form prior to September 1, 2025?	Non-compliant forms must be rejected by the employer and CPAM, except for a tolerance during summer 2025.
Can I send a scanned copy of the sick leave to my employer?	No, only the original versions of the new secure paper form are accepted.
How can I obtain the new secure Cerfa form?	The form is available upon request from the Treating Physician or through CPAM distribution channels.
Is transmission via Ameli mandatory?	It remains strongly recommended and is the most secure method but not mandatory.
What are the risks for an employee presenting a false sick leave?	The employee faces severe sanctions, including loss of allowances and criminal prosecution.

These useful information points facilitate adaptation to the new reform and reassure insured individuals about the security and recognition of their rights. Many official guides are available online on Ameli and on the Public Service website.

Source: entreprendre.service-public.fr