To stop the rise in health insurance contributions, the coalition has launched austerity measures. Medical professionals fear that this will lead to fewer appointments.
dpa | The statutory health insurance physicians’ associations expect, due to the planned savings in the health care system next year, considerably fewer treatments in doctors’ practices. According to calculations by the statutory health insurance physicians’ associations, around 46 million treatment cases would not be financed by the planned savings. Bild had first reported on a corresponding paper from the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV).
General practitioners and family doctors, who previously treated on average 984 patients per quarter, could thus only treat 892 cases. For pediatricians, the number of patients who could be fully cared for would mathematically drop from 1,189 to 1,124.
The federal cabinet had at the end of April launched a savings package for the health system, which still has to pass through the Bundestag and the Bundesrat. It is intended to stop the steady rise in health insurance contributions, which had repeatedly been offset by rising costs in the system. The statutory health insurance funds are to be relieved of 16.3 billion euros in 2027. This is slightly more than the expected deficit of 15.3 billion euros.
Cuts and Higher Payments
Planned are expenditure brakes for practices, clinics and the pharmaceutical industry – but also higher co-payments for medicines, higher contributions for high earners and restrictions on free co-insurance for spouses. At doctors and clinics, increases in remuneration are to be limited. At practices, several extra payments are to be abolished.
KBV chief Andreas Gassen told Bild: “We are facing a hedge-trimming-style savings law. If it comes in the form currently available, the statutory health insurance associations will have to reduce the outpatient service offering.” Already today many examinations and treatments would not be paid, the paper states. More than 40 million appointments provided by specialists would be performed without remuneration.
The KBV had already warned after the cabinet decision at the end of April of noticeable consequences with fewer appointments and services for patients. According to their information, the reductions would leave around 2.7 billion euros less for the outpatient care of legally insured patients.
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