LPP Compress Reimbursement 2026: The Groupings Guide

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In 2026, the reimbursement of sterile compresses is evolving on two fronts: the prices of generic references are decreasing, and reimbursement is now based on individual codes assigned by brand. For a pharmaceutical group, understanding this mechanism means identifying an opportunity for margin and differentiation via its own private-label range.

How does the reimbursement of compresses work under the LPP?

The List of Reimbursable Products and Services (LPP) lists all medical devices covered by the Health Insurance, as provided for by Article L.165-1 of the Social Security Code. Sterile compresses — both non-woven and hydrophilic gauze — are included with a reimbursement rate and a maximum selling price (PLV).

Each reimbursed compress falls under a generic line (for example, «sterile non-woven compresses 7.5 × 7.5 cm, box of 10 pouches of 2») to which individual lines are attached, one for each registered brand.

The shift to individual codes since 2022

This is a crucial point for groups: since January 1, 2022, reimbursement is no longer based on generic codes but on individual codes assigned by brand. Generic codes now serve only as technical specifications and lists of indications.

Specifically, this means that a white-label range of compresses can have its own dedicated LPP line—a necessary condition to be reimbursed under its own name.

What is changing regarding pricing in 2025-2026

The Economic Committee for Health Products (CEPS) has initiated a downward revision of the prices of generic sterile compresses, as part of its mission to control expenditure. For the 7.5 × 7.5 cm sterile non-woven compress in a box of 10 pouches of 2:

DeadlineLimit selling price
Before Nov. 2025€3.25 incl. VAT
Starting November 15, 2025€3.07 incl. VAT
Starting November 15, 2026€2.98 tax included

The average decrease reaches 14.4 % across all concerned references, whether non-woven compresses or hydrophilic gauze, in various sizes and packaging.

Opinion of the CEPS published in the Official Journal, reported by Le Moniteur des Pharmacies and Le Quotidien du Pharmacien.

Why this decline is an opportunity for groups

At first glance, a price reduction is bad news. But for a group that thinks in terms of product range and margin, it opens a strategic window.

Alongside this decline in OE generics, steam-sterilized compresses obtained a named LPP listing at a higher rate that remains stable until the end of 2025. The reimbursement gap between a named steam compress and a generic OE compress currently reaches +8.8 %, and will increase up to +12.1 % by November 2026.

For a buying group, offering its own line of white-label steam compresses therefore allows to:

  • maintain a reimbursement rate more favorable than the falling OE generic; ;
  • mastering one's margin on a high-turnover flow product; ;
  • stand out with a strong «ethylene oxide-free» argument ;
  • build loyalty among member pharmacies around a private label.

How to register one's compresses on the LPP under one's own brand?

The registration of a white-label compress in the LPP follows a regulated procedure:

  1. Having a compliant product — CE certified, manufactured according to ISO 13485 and MDR 2017/745 standards, with a validated sterilization process (EN ISO 17665 steam for an EO-free range).
  2. Compile the regulatory dossier — relying on the precedent set by steam compresses already listed (EO toxicology, Article R4412-66 of the Labor Code, ISO 10993-7 standard, materiovigilance).
  3. Submit the registration request — the evaluation is the responsibility of the HAS (Actual Benefit) and the pricing that of the CEPS.

The recent precedent of steam compresses reduces the risk of instruction for similar cases.

The Smart Agents Healthcare support

For a group, the main obstacle is not regulatory but operational: finding a manufacturer capable of producing compliant compresses at a competitive price with the right sterilization process.

Smart Agents Healthcare supports pharmaceutical groups and laboratories in the private-label manufacturing of sterile compresses — non-woven and hydrophilic gauze, steam-sterilized (EN ISO 17665), ISO 13485 and MDR 2017/745 certified. From defining specifications to delivery, including support for the LPP registration dossier, we help our partners build a reimbursable product range under their own brand.

→ Discover our white-label sterile steam compresses offer

FAQ

Since January 1, 2022, reimbursement is based on individual codes assigned by brand, rather than generic codes. A white-label product range can therefore have its own LPP line.

The average decrease is 14.4 % on generic sterile compresses, in two waves: November 2025 and then November 2026. For the 7.5 x 7.5 cm B/10 size, the limit selling price drops from €3.25 to €2.98 including tax.

Yes. By having its compresses manufactured under private label by a certified manufacturer, and then registering them with the LPP under an individual code, a group can market a reimbursed product range under its own name.

Because the absence of ethylene oxide residue—classified as CMR—makes steam compresses safer for newborns and vulnerable patients, a point emphasized by the HAS.

Allow 4 to 6 months for the production of a first order, to which must be added the processing time for the LPP registration application by the HAS and the CEPS.

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