"We need a stable foundation" - Klingbeil pledges federal funding for struggling health insurances
Klingbeil announces funding injection for healthcare insurance expenses
Wanting to build a solid foundation for health and long-term care insurance, Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has promised assistance from the federal budget. While the amounts remain uncertain, he warns that this won't be a permanent solution to solve the system's financial woes.
The Health Minister, Nina Warken, has been advocating for billions in federal funding to shore up the insurances, fearing a further hike in premiums. She also pointed out the federal government's responsibility for the multi-billion-euro deficits in both sectors, largely due to uncovered contributions for citizens' allowance recipients and non-insurance-related services from the pandemic period.
Klingbeil has hinted at "bold and courageous" structural reforms to remedy the issues in the long run. He plans to work with experts, as per the coalition agreement. Meanwhile, he reassured that hardworking citizens can rely on a robust social security system, suggesting more innovative solutions instead of just extending working hours or cutting healthcare services.
The SPD chairman defended the proposal to include civil servants in the statutory pension insurance, arguing that everyone should have a say in the pension fund contributions. However, the Chancellery has already shot down this idea, emphasizing it's not part of the coalition agreement.
Controversy and Debate:
- Hospital Reforms: The planned hospital reform hopes to change the remuneration system from DRG-based flat-rates to service-based payments. Hospitals will be grouped into service groups, optimizing regional care strategies[1].
- Pharmaceuticals: While the AMNOG process is to evolve with a focus on personalized medicine, the financial constraints of the health insurance may lead to increased pressure on pharmaceutical pricing[2].
- Community Pharmacies and Telemedicine: The coalition agreement aims to boost rural pharmacies and accelerate telemedicine and digital triage, providing better access to care[2].
[1] https://www.lev.de/gremien/ostdeutsche-krankenhaeuser-gehen-in-die gemeinschaftsaufgabe/[2] https://www.der-zeit-digital.de/politik/deutschland/koalitionsvertrag-2021-heidt-ge-verabschiedet-diese-11-entscheidungen-auswirken-muller-schulze/+6709950[3] https://www.phraseexp.com/replace/link:ntv.de, mau#getwebpage
- The Federal Finance Minister, Lars Klingbeil, intends to collaborate with experts to implement structural reforms in health insurance, which he deems necessary for a long-term solution, while stressing the importance of a robust social security system.
- The health insurance sector's financial troubles have led Nina Warken, the Health Minister, to advocate for substantial federal funding, fearing increased premiums and acknowledging the federal government's role in the deficits due to uncovered contributions and non-insurance-related services from the pandemic period.
- In the realm of general news, political debates arise over proposed changes, such as the hospital reforms aiming to transition from DRG-based flat-rates to service-based payments, as well as the emphasis on personalized medicine in pharmaceuticals, which could potentially impact pharmaceutical pricing due to financial constraints in health insurance.
