Hospital.Help

Berlin – The remaining federal government wants to implement some projects in the health sector without the participation of the FDP.

Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) told journalists today that he was continuing to work despite the current situation. Lauterbach emphasized that he still has a lot to do and a lot to do. “It was with great regret that I saw the end of the traffic lights,” he continued. According to Lauterbach, we have always worked well together in the health sector. “We were a good team.”

Today, for example, he announced that he would increase nursing care contributions by ordinance in order to support nursing care insurance from next year. Further legal regulations are being planned, including the three regulations for the implementation of the hospital reform. The prerequisite is that the federal states allow the hospital reform to pass in the Federal Council. “I am confident that we will overcome this hurdle,” said Lauterbach.

Other projects, such as the planned de-budgeting of family doctors, are also still in the middle of the parliamentary process. The regulation is part of the planned Health Care Strengthening Act (GVSG). When asked whether this could still be realized, Lauterbach explained: “We first have to gather ourselves together and talk about what can be implemented.”

There are a whole series of projects that Lauterbach wants to finalize by the end of the year, despite all the circumstances. “We are looking at what legal options we have,” he said. He emphasized that he would still continue to work on projects that could no longer be decided in this legislative period. This also includes emergency reform. He announced that this would be done at the beginning of the new legislative period at the latest.

Another law to establish the planned Federal Institute for Public Health (BIÖG), which is currently being discussed in the Bundestag, is on the brink. “In principle, the law establishing a Federal Institute for Public Health was intended to be finalized in the Bundestag next week,” explained Janosch Dahmen, health policy spokesman for the Green Party in the Bundestag, today.

A majority in the Bundestag is needed to put the law on the agenda and of course to then pass the law.” Dahmen announced that the parliamentary groups will campaign to be able to finalize negotiated laws.

Emergency reform on the brink

“We live in extraordinary times and, especially after the election decision in the USA, we must immediately take more precautions ourselves. This also means that an emergency and rescue service reform does not tolerate any further delay,” he said with regard to the emergency reform.

The deputy health policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag, Christos Pantazis, also emphasized that the revision of emergency care could not wait until after the next federal election. “In view of the trusting cooperation between the representatives of the traffic light parliamentary groups in the health sector, this would be a fatal sign for the people in our country.”

Pantazis further emphasized that the hospital reform must pass the Federal Council and the securing of care financing must be regulated. “Citizens need clarity and perspectives in the healthcare system. There is still a chance to initiate significant reform projects across party groups. “

The need for changes in health policy is immense, and the end of the coalition should not lead to a complete standstill, said the doctor and politician. Pantazis called on the opposition, especially the Union, to support these measures until the new elections. “A joint approach is a strong sign of the ability of democracy to act and the stability of Germany and Europe.

No promises from the opposition

It is questionable, however, whether the other parties will play along. The health policy spokesman for the Union parliamentary group in the Bundestag, Tino Sorge, explained today at the National Health Quality Congress that it is unrealistic, even audacious, to hope that the Union can still pass laws. Concern complained that the traffic light government had so far let the CDU/CSU “drain” on all issues.

He insisted that Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) must promptly ask the Bundestag for a vote of confidence. It is important to avoid a “hanging match”, emphasized Sorge. In addition, with a view to a possible grand coalition after the elections, the CDU politician announced that even if the hospital reform came into force without consulting the Federal Council’s mediation committee, improvements would be necessary. “You will have to make a lot of adjustments,” he explained.

The health policy spokesman for the FPD parliamentary group, Andrew Ullmann, sounded a little more conciliatory yesterday. He explained that the decision on laws ultimately “depends entirely on the matter and on the extent to which the SPD and the Greens put forward or take up sensible proposals”.

KRITIS laws are no longer passed

Heiko Rottman-Großner, head of the “Health Security” sub-department at the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG), explained which laws could no longer be implemented in this legislative period at the National Health Quality Congress today. Although the KRITIS umbrella law passed the federal cabinet on Wednesday, it will no longer be able to be passed in the Bundestag.

The law should serve as a blueprint for the new legislative period. The health sector is also only addressed in a rudimentary manner in the proposed law; a more precise design would have to be defined in the associated legal regulations, says Rottman-Großner.

He also explained that the Health Security Act will no longer be passed in this legislative period. However, the current situation provides a “breathing space” to improve the law in view of criticism, for example from the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI). It is important to keep in mind the balancing act of not burdening hospitals with new reporting requirements, but still being able to take better precautions for civil protection in crisis situations, says Rottman-Großner. Despite the possible new elections, the BMG wants to continue working on the law and get it underway in the new legislative period, he confirmed.

Health insurance companies demand non-partisan cooperation

Carola Reimann, the chairwoman of the AOK federal association, has now appealed for cross-party cooperation. “The proclaimed autumn of reforms is now ending in a political autumn storm. But important reform projects such as hospital reform, securing nursing care financing and the urgently needed reform of emergency care cannot wait until after the federal election.” Citizens need security and perspective. Reimann further emphasized that the traffic lights should not lead to a complete standstill. According to her, the parties should come together at crucial points.

Franz Knieps, CEO of the BKK umbrella organization, and Anne-Kathrin Klemm, board member of the BKK umbrella organization, also warned of uncertainty in the country. Health policy must now be approached constructively and pragmatically so that the long-overdue transformation process in the health system can gain momentum.

The fact that many projects have been put on hold is setting Germany back years, criticized CEO Lutz Hager of the Federal Association of Managed Care (BMC). “A new beginning can only succeed if it is collaborative, innovation-oriented and enabling.”

The President of the Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists (BPtK), Andrea Benecke, also called for the care of mentally ill people not to be overlooked. Separate planning for the care of children and young people with mental illnesses as well as the financing of psychotherapeutic training is needed, she demanded. © cmk/aerzteblatt.de