ADELI to RPPS: migration guide for osteopaths and therapists

On October 11, 2024, an administrative page silently turned for thousands of practitioners: with the integration of osteopaths, chiropractors, psychotherapists, speech therapists, and orthoptists, the switch from ADELI to the RPPS reached its final stage. (1) Overnight, the former departmental ADELI number gave way to a unique national identifier. Many learned of this change through a simple email, without realizing what this new number concretely changes or the access it unlocks. This guide covers all aspects: why this transition occurred, how the RPPS is structured, the digital rights it grants you, and how to seamlessly integrate it into your daily tools.

Why a switch from ADELI to the RPPS?

For years, two registries coexisted to identify French healthcare professionals. On one side was the RPPS, reserved for ordered professions (physicians, physiotherapists, midwives, etc.). On the other was ADELI, an acronym for "Automatisation DEs LIstes" (Automation of Lists), which registered non-ordered professions with the Regional Health Agencies (ARS): osteopaths, psychologists, psychotherapists, occupational therapists, etc. Two systems, two logics, and, above all, an ADELI number that varied by department and profession. (2)

The switch to a single registry, the Shared Directory of Professionals in the Healthcare System (RPPS), managed by the Digital Health Agency (ANS), specifically aims to simplify this architecture. It forms the backbone of the digital health roadmap: a single identifier, a single source of truth, powering all national digital services and the Health Directory.

A timeline spread over three years

The transition did not happen overnight. It followed successive batches, profession by profession:

• October 2021: Nurses paved the way.

• June 2023: Dental assistants and social workers.

• March 2024: Lab technicians, radiographers, dietitians, psychomotor therapists, and occupational therapists.

• June 2024: Psychologists, opticians, audiologists, and prosthetists/orthotists.

• October 11, 2024: The final batch: osteopaths, chiropractors, psychotherapists, speech therapists, and orthoptists, marking the progressive decommissioning of ADELI. (1)

Did you know? In 2026, the RPPS brings together more than 1.8 million professionals from all regulated healthcare professions. ADELI no longer accepts new registrations: the RPPS is now the authoritative registry. (4)

What you (perhaps) didn't know about the RPPS number

Eleven digits, a lifelong identifier

The RPPS number consists of 11 digits. Its major difference from the former ADELI number lies in one word: permanence. While the ADELI identifier changed with every change of department, the RPPS is a unique national identifier that you keep throughout your career, regardless of your practice locations and methods. (3) It is never reassigned to another professional: upon retirement or cessation of activity, it simply switches to an "inactive" status.

Be careful not to confuse it with two other numbers. The Health Insurance number (9 digits) remains your billing identifier with the CPAM; the FINESS number, on the other hand, identifies a healthcare facility (clinic, healthcare center), not an individual. The RPPS is you, the healthcare professional as an individual.

The RPPS, the gateway to your digital identity

This is the least known, and probably the most important point. Your RPPS number is not just a line on an invoice: it is the key that unlocks the entire digital health ecosystem.

• The e-CPS: The digital version of the healthcare professional card, which can be activated on a smartphone using your RPPS, provided you have updated your mobile number and email in the directory. (5)

• Pro Santé Connect: The Single Sign-On (SSO) service for healthcare professionals, which authenticates you with a single login for all connected digital health services. Its implementation has been mandatory since January 1, 2023. (5)

• MSSanté: The secure health messaging service, personalized and encrypted, which is the only legal channel for exchanging health data between professionals.

• Mon espace santé and the DMP: Access to the patient's shared medical record, subject to your profession's authorization and the patient's consent.

Did you know? Sending a medical report to a colleague via a standard public messaging service (Gmail, Outlook, etc.) is illegal under medical confidentiality and GDPR regulations. MSSanté, linked to your RPPS, is the only compliant channel for these exchanges.

Osteopaths: how the switch applies to your profession

Osteopaths occupy a unique place in this reform. As a regulated profession but without an order, osteopathy historically required an ADELI registration with the ARS. (2) The good news: if you were already registered before October 2024, the switch was automatic and free. No action was required on your part, as your old ADELI number was mapped to your new RPPS. (1)

The situation is different for newly qualified practitioners. Since October 16, 2024, an osteopath starting their practice no longer registers on ADELI but directly with the RPPS, via the e-RPPS portal run by the ANS, by logging in with FranceConnect. The registration is still validated by the ARS, which remains the reference registering authority for the profession. (3)

This is an essential distinction: unlike physiotherapists or chiropodists, who register through their professional order, osteopaths update their information themselves on the e-RPPS portal. If you are in the process of setting up your clinic, our guide on setting up an osteopathy practice details all the procedures, from qualifications to insurance, while the one dedicated to the sole proprietorship/self-employed status covers the SIRET and URSSAF registration.

Good to know: pitfalls to avoid and frequently asked questions

A few practical steps will help you handle this transition smoothly and avoid any correlation issues.

• Find your RPPS number: Search the Health Directory for free on annuaire.sante.fr, or download the ADELI-to-RPPS mapping tables published online by the ANS. (4)

• Check your profile: If your name does not appear in the Health Directory, your file has probably not been migrated. In this case, contact your ARS. (4)

• Update your contact details: Having an up-to-date mobile number and email in the RPPS is essential to activate your e-CPS. (5)

• Do not worry about old templates: Your old ADELI number may still appear on older prescriptions or invoices. The RPPS is the one that is authoritative from now on.

• Report any changes: A change in marital status, practice location, or mode of practice must be declared online on the e-RPPS portal, using FranceConnect or your e-CPS. (3)

Integrating your RPPS number into your daily tools

Obtaining your RPPS is one thing. Using it on a daily basis is another. Concretely, your new number must appear everywhere your former ADELI number was used: billing, patient documents, and connection to digital services. Most practice management software programs provide a dedicated field in the practitioner's profile.

Regardless of your practice management software, the switch takes just a few minutes: in your practitioner profile settings, simply replace the old ADELI number with your 11-digit RPPS. This simple change will then be reflected on your invoices, printed documents, and your login via Pro Santé Connect.

This holds true for all your tools: online booking platforms, electronic billing software, and professional directories. A well-chosen management software centralizes this information and prevents omissions. To see how a tracking and management tool integrates with your RPPS identity, feel free to chat with the Andrew® team.

An administrative switch with real benefits

Behind its purely administrative appearance, transitioning from ADELI to RPPS is not just a change of numbers. It represents the entry of osteopaths and therapists into a unified digital healthcare ecosystem: a lifelong identifier, a secure digital identity, and access to services that now structure care coordination. By taking a few minutes to check your profile in the Health Directory, activate your e-CPS, and enter your number into your software tools, you turn a regulatory requirement into a solid foundation for your medical practice.

Do you want to simplify your practice management around your new RPPS identity? Request a free demo to discover how an ecosystem designed for healthcare professionals, like the Andrew® ecosystem dedicated to osteopaths, can save you time every day.