The German Hospital Association (DKG) has strongly criticized the short-term amendments proposed to the health reform by Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU). Ahead of a decisive vote in the Bundestag next Friday, DKG Chairman Gerald Gaß told the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” that these changes “do not save hospital care.”
While these amendments introduce localized improvements, such as enhancements to the nursing budget, they fundamentally do not address the core issues. Gaß warned that the necessary structural transition will not be mitigated; instead, it will accelerate further. He argued that the law remains marred by a culture of deep distrust.
Specific issues cited include the massive expansion of audits by the Medical Service and the difficult-to-implement cross-hospital case consolidation, which have mainly generated more bureaucracy, uncertainty, and increased burden on hospitals.
The context for Warkens’ new proposal involves reducing contributions for co-insured spouses and lowering surcharges for medication or hospital stays. The federal government plans to offset this expected deficit by allocating nearly €1.4 billion in additional funds next year.
Nonetheless, Gaß stated that the government is disregarding warnings from hospital trustees, district administrators, and labor unions. He cautioned that this path is leading “with open eyes” toward significant care deficits, which citizens, particularly in rural areas, will feel most acutely. Although Gaß viewed the allocation of additional federal funds positively, he criticized the ongoing failure of the government to fully finance the health costs for recipients of “Bürgergeld” (basic income) through cost-covering contributions.
