Professional guides
NGAP for nurses: coding, BSI, supplements and billing in private practice
· Guide drawn up from the official sources cited.
In short
The private practice nurse codes their acts according to NGAP: a key letter (AMI, AMX, DI, etc.) followed by a coefficient. Depending on the circumstances, night, Sunday or specific supplements are added, a flat-rate travel allowance and mileage allowances. The invoice is electronically transmitted as an electronic care sheet with the CPS card.
Coding correctly means being paid fairly and avoiding overpayments. Nursing nomenclature follows precise rules: key letters, nursing care assessment, supplements subject to conditions, travel allowances, electronic transmission. This guide explains the principles of coding in private practice and tells you where to find current rates, which change with amendments to the agreement.
What is NGAP?
The general nomenclature of professional acts (NGAP) comprises general provisions and the list of acts covered by health insurance. It dates from 1972 and applies in particular to paramedical professionals, including nurses.
NGAP is regularly updated. Health insurance publishes the current version on ameli in PDF format, with explanatory notes, as well as the previous version. Always work with the latest version: an act, a condition or a supplement may have changed.
How is nursing coding structured?
A coding combines a key letter and a coefficient. The amount of the act corresponds to the value of the key letter multiplied by the coefficient. For example, the initial nursing care assessment is coded DI 2.5.
Main key letters
- AMI: technical acts, outside the framework of dependency care;
- AMX: technical acts carried out within the framework of dependency care;
- AIS: nursing care acts;
- DI: development of the nursing care process, including BSI;
- TMI: acts carried out remotely.
Specific codes also exist for dependency allowances, travel allowances, support for teleconsultation and advanced practice.
How does the nursing care assessment (BSI) work?
The BSI makes it possible to assess the health status of a dependent patient to establish their care plan. It concerns all dependent patients, regardless of age.
The prescription
The prescription must clearly refer to nursing care for a dependent patient at home. Several wordings are accepted: nursing care for dependency at home, washing, nursing, BSI.
The online service
The BSI is completed in the dedicated online service on amelipro, with your CPS card. A BSI left as a draft does not allow billing: it must be closed.
The three types of assessments
- Initial BSI, at the first evaluation;
- Renewal BSI, since the BSI has a validity period of one year;
- Intermediate BSI, in the event of a change in the clinical situation that modifies the care, limited to two per year.
Daily allowances and associated acts
The assessment determines a daily allowance for light care (BSA), intermediate (BSB) or heavy (BSC) care. Technical acts authorised in addition to the allowance, carried out during a sequence of dependency care, are billed as AMX. Travel is billed as IFI, with mileage allowances where applicable.
What supplements can the private practice nurse bill?
Night, Sunday and public holidays
NGAP provides for night supplements on two time slots (from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. and from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m., then from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.) and a Sunday and public holiday supplement. Their conditions are strict:
- the night supplement is only billable if the prescription indicates the imperative necessity for night-time execution;
- the Sunday or public holiday supplement is only billable if the prescription indicates the necessity for strictly daily execution.
Specific supplements
Three supplements complete the nomenclature: MAU (single act supplement), MCI (nursing coordination supplement) and MIE (supplement for a child under 7 years old). Each is subject to precise conditions, described in NGAP: check them before applying them.
Point of caution: a night or Sunday supplement billed without appropriate mention on the prescription is not billable: these conditions are set out in NGAP and on ameli. Re-read the prescription before coding.
How to bill travel allowances?
IFD and IFI
The flat-rate travel allowance (IFD) is added to the fees for acts carried out at the patient's home. It can be combined with mileage allowances and with the night supplement. When travel takes place within the framework of a BSI dependency allowance or advanced practice care, the IFI is billed.
Mileage allowances (IK)
IK allowances are added to the value of the act when two conditions are met:
- the practice and the patient's home are located in different urban areas;
- the distance exceeds 2 km on flat terrain or 1 km in mountainous areas.
Calculation is based on the round-trip distance, after a deduction of 2 km outward and 2 km return on flat terrain, 1 km outward and 1 km return in mountainous areas. Separate rates apply for flat terrain, mountainous areas and ski resorts.
Good to know: reimbursement for travel cannot exceed the allowance calculated for the contracted nurse whose professional address is closest to the patient's residence. If you travel from further away, the difference is not covered.
What are the rules on combining allowances?
The combinations expressly provided for are as follows:
- IFD allowance may be combined, where applicable, with IK allowances and night-time supplements;
- BSA, BSB and BSC flat fees combine with authorised technical acts, coded as AMX, and with IFI allowance.
When several acts are performed during the same session, their coding follows the general provisions of the NGAP relating to multiple acts. Consult them in the current version of the nomenclature before combining several acts.
How do I submit my claim forms electronically?
Billing is done via the electronic claim form (FSE). You will need:
- your healthcare professional card (CPS), valid for 3 years and automatically renewed: see our guide onthe RPPS and CPS card;
- billing software compliant with SESAM-Vitale;
- a card reader to PC/SC standard;
- the patient's Vitale card or Vitale card app;
- a scanner to digitise supporting documents as PDFs, such as prescriptions.
Electronic submission speeds up payment of your acts under third-party payment. The Health Insurance Fund also provides a grant to support modernisation and computerisation of your practice, on annual declaration via amelipro.
How do I track my payments using NOEMIE feedback?
NOEMIE feedback is a file made available by the Health Insurance Fund within 48 hours of transmission of your batches. It contains payments and rejections of your invoices: payment recipient, accounting date, batch and invoice numbers, details of acts.
To reconcile your receipts, use the accounting date shown on your bank statements, in YYMMDD format. Process rejections immediately to correct and resubmit the invoices concerned.
Where can I find current rates?
The conventional rates for self-employed nurses, for mainland France, overseas departments and Mayotte, are published on the 'Conventional rates' page of ameli. They change with each amendment: rely only on this page and your up-to-date software.
Amendment 11, which came into force on 6 May 2026, provides for a two-stage revaluation of the key letters AMI and AMX, better remuneration for the care of the most dependent patients, revision of certain acts and allowances, the creation of nursing consultations and the nurse coordinator for patients with long-term conditions. For information on consultations, see our guide onnursing consultation.
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
- Where can I download the current NGAP?
- On ameli, under the nurse section, on the page 'Nomenclatures: NGAP and LPP'. The current version is published there as a PDF with explanatory notes.
- Does the BSI apply only to older people?
- No. It applies to all dependent patients, regardless of age, on prescription of nursing care for dependency at home.
- How many intermediate BSI assessments can be carried out per year?
- A maximum of two per year, in the event of a change in the clinical situation that modifies nursing care.
- When can the night-time supplement be charged?
- Only if the prescription indicates the absolute necessity of night-time provision.
- What is the difference between IFD and IFI?
- IFD is added to the procedures carried out at home. IFI replaces it for visits made under a BSI dependency allowance or advanced practice care.
- From what distance are IK charges applied?
- When the practice and the patient are in different urban areas and the distance exceeds 2 km in flat terrain or 1 km in mountainous terrain, after reduction.
- How long does it take to receive the NOEMIE return?
- It is made available within 48 hours of transmission of the electronic invoice batches.