Health
Solution for transparency and financing at clinics
Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (l, SPD) and Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) at the meeting of the Mediation Committee of the Bundestag and Bundesrat. photo
© Joerg Carstensen/dpa
For months, the federal and state governments have been struggling to reorganize the clinics in Germany. In addition to a major reform, there is a law that has been stuck – until now.
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) said: “There is more money for the clinics and a better overview of the quality of the houses.” This could prevent a wave of insolvencies. He promised a billion-dollar “transformation fund” for a planned major hospital reform.
The Federal Council slowed down a transparency law for clinics passed by the Bundestag in November. The Mediation Committee now voted by a majority to accept it. Nothing stands in the way of a Federal Council decision, said Lauterbach. Schwesig said that one could expect that it would be enough for approval.
Online atlas on the range of services and treatment quality
Specifically, it is an online atlas of the range of services and treatment quality at 1,700 clinic locations nationwide. “Patients finally find out where they can best be treated,” said Lauterbach. Data on case numbers, i.e. treatment experience, staffing ratios for doctors and nurses as well as complication rates for selected procedures should also be available on the portal. Lauterbach said the launch is still scheduled for May 1.
The law also includes provisions for additional liquidity amounting to billions for the clinics this year. It is intended to accompany a major reform with new regulations on hospital remuneration, which the federal and state governments have been negotiating for months. Regarding general financing, Lauterbach also said that the federal government stands by the word it gave to the states in the Bundesrat. Among other things, wage increases for all employees should be better reflected in the reimbursement of operating costs.
50 billion euros for hospital reform
The clinics should also receive a “transformation fund” with a view to a planned major hospital reform, for which 50 billion euros are planned for ten years from 2025. The federal and state governments should share the sum equally, said Lauterbach.
The major hospital reform aims to change the reimbursement system with flat rates for treatment cases in order to relieve hospitals of financial pressure to deal with more and more cases. In the future, they should receive 60 percent of their remuneration simply for providing services.
The basis for financing by the health insurance companies should also be more precisely defined service groups. They should also ensure uniform quality standards. Lauterbach said the plan remains to bring the bill to the federal cabinet at the end of April.