The Federal Government’s Pflegebevollmächtigte (Commissioner for Long-Term Care), Katrin Staffler, has cautioned against relying solely on contribution increases or tax subsidies to bolster the finances of the long-term care insurance system. She argues that such measures, without prior and comprehensive reforms, risk proving ineffective.
Speaking to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, Staffler emphasized the need for “bold structural reforms” warning that simply injecting more funding into the current system would be akin to “pouring water into a leaky barrel”. She specifically called for a reassessment of the rigid distinction between stationary and ambulatory care, advocating for reforms that consolidate disparate benefits into more flexible performance pools.
“Without new, far-reaching care concepts, we will not be able to provide care for people in need in a way that meets their individual expectations” Staffler cautioned.
Initial discussions within the Federal-State Commission, held on Monday, suggest a promising trajectory toward addressing the urgently needed, substantial structural overhauls. The Commissioner underscored that maintaining the security of care for those requiring long-term support must remain the paramount consideration throughout the reform process.
