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Outpatient care | Less doctor, more health?
Because statutory health insurance doctors fear reductions in their fees, their boss is now threatening that urgent patients will have to pay themselves.
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Andreas Gassen, head of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) Photo: dpa/Markus Lenhardt According to the announcement by the head of statutory health insurance physicians, Andreas Gassen, due to reductions in fees, those with statutory health insurance must be prepared to pay for treatments themselves in order to avoid longer waiting times.
What does this threat mean for whom? It is certainly addressed to the legislature (and the health insurance companies): If the reorganization of outpatient care is not carried out in such a way that specialists continue to earn as well as before or even more, then there will be trouble. Then - depending on their wishes and income situation - patients receive certain diagnostics and therapy with a delay. Or then straight to the hospital. It will definitely be more expensive for the entire system. That's the signal from the head of the statutory health insurance physicians. The professional politician also communicates that he is committed to his guild.
But what does that mean for patients? Didn't a lot of people feel like they were getting too much diagnosis anyway? Did the medication make any difference at all? Or, in the direction of orthopedics: The doctor couldn't help me either - he didn't even really examine me. And the other way around: Until now, specialist appointments have often only been made in six months.
Since the number of doctor contacts in Germany is well above average compared to the EU, but life expectancy is below average, on healthy days one might get the idea that something is fundamentally wrong here. This won't work for all patients, but it might work for some. In view of the already increasing expenses for many households, it can be assumed that only a few patients with statutory health insurance can spare extra money for doctor's fees. The KBV boss's announcement could therefore also prove to be a boomerang. Less doctor, more health? Certainly not always that easy, but wouldn't it be worth a try?
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