Germany Approves New fee Schedule for Private Medical Services
After years of debate,Germany’s medical community has approved a new fee schedule for doctors,impacting privately insured and self-paying patients. The German medical Day passed the draft on Thursday, sending it to the Federal Ministry of Health for final approval.
Key Highlights of the New Fee Schedule
- Overwhelming Support: The medical parliament voted decisively in favor,with 212 votes for and only 19 against.
- Collaborative effort: The draft is a joint effort by the Federal Medical Association (BÄK), the association of private health insurance (PKV association), and aid organizations.
- Modernization: The existing fee schedule, largely from the 1980s, is outdated and fails to account for medical advancements.
- Digital Integration: The new schedule systematically incorporates digital services like electronic patient files and telemedicine.
Did you know? The previous fee schedule was so outdated that manny essential medical services were not even included, hindering proper compensation for doctors.
Financial implications
The Federal Medical association anticipates a notable increase in income for doctors from private health insurance. According to Federal Medical Association President Klaus Reinhardt, the new fee schedule could result in a plus of the income of doctors from private health insurance to 13.2 percent or 1.9 billion euros in the first three years.
Addressing Concerns and Ensuring Fairness
The new fee schedule aims to provide better compensation for “speaking medicine” compared to technical procedures. This adjustment addresses previous protests from various medical specialties,including radiology,laboratory medicine,surgery,virology,ophthalmology,and urology.
Pro Tip: The new fee schedule includes a mechanism for continuous development, ensuring it remains relevant and adaptable to future medical advancements.
The Federal Medical Association and the PKV association have committed to ongoing reviews and adjustments in consultation with medical professional associations and specialist societies. This collaborative approach ensures the fee schedule remains aligned with medical progress and cost developments.
Reinhardt emphasized the importance of the new order, stating that it ensures more legal certainty and openness.
He also noted the extensive consultation process, involving around 165 professional and specialist associations.
He also stated that the medical profession must find an appropriate balance of interests
with private health insurance and aid.
The stakes of Approval
During the debate, Reinhardt cautioned that rejecting the new fee schedule would jeopardize the political credibility of the medical profession.
The core of the dispute centered on financial considerations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will be affected by this new fee schedule?
privately insured and self-paying patients in Germany.
What are the main benefits of the new fee schedule?
It modernizes medical billing, incorporates digital services, and aims for fairer compensation.
When will the new fee schedule take effect?
After approval by the Federal ministry of Health.
Why was the old fee schedule outdated?
It largely dated back to the 1980s and did not reflect current medical practices or technologies.
