The draft legislation proposed by Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) concerning the reorganization of long-term care insurance is experiencing delays. According to current cabinet scheduling reported by the “Funke” media group, the cabinet is now slated to approve the paper on May 27th, a shift from the originally scheduled date of one week earlier.
The German Association of Elderly and Disability Aid (VDAB) has strongly criticized the postponement. VDAB Federal Managing Director Thomas Knieling stated to the “Funke” papers that the delay indicates the draft likely requires significantly more time for consultation and internal coordination than initially estimated. Meanwhile, the timeframe to enact the reform before the summer recess is becoming increasingly narrow.
Knieling emphasized that the entire care sector urgently awaits definitive decisions to ensure future planning and the stability of care services. He pointed to the precarious situation many care facility operators face, noting that it is becoming harder for numerous institutions to guarantee adequate staffing and financial stability amidst constantly rising costs for both care recipients and social assistance providers.
Long-standing core questions remain unresolved: How can a generationally fair funding model for long-term care insurance be guaranteed, and how can comprehensive care be maintained despite persistent shortages of skilled professionals? Knieling demanded concrete measures, insisting that a genuine care reform must dismantle rigid institutional structures, remove regulatory barriers, and grant greater flexibility to care facilities. He concluded that the federal government must provide answers by the date of the cabinet’s resolution.
