The Chairman of Barmer, Christoph Straub, warned the Federal Government about financing difficulties for certain nursing funds. Despite the planned nursing reform, he told Politico that the federal government might have to intervene next year. Individual funds could possibly face financial difficulties, Straub said. While the nursing funds might not go bankrupt, the federal government would then have to step in.
The Social Long-term Care Insurance (SPV) needs approximately 8 to 10 billion euros next year. However, the nursing reform only saves 6.25 billion euros. This leaves a gap of 1.75 to 3.75 billion euros.
The Finance Minister must close this gap, Straub said. Among other things, he demands that the federal government take over the pension contributions for caring relatives from the federal budget. This would relieve the nursing insurance by about 3 billion euros. Currently, the contributions are covered by the nursing funds. Furthermore, Straub demands reimbursement of 5.2 billion euros for pandemic-related expenses. However, the Federal Ministry of Finance had already rejected corresponding reimbursement at the end of September.
Straub rejects possible service cuts in nursing, which Health Minister Carsten Linnemann introduced in late October. He said that the already decided cuts for care level 1 are a real reduction. He stated that he cannot accept any further cuts.
