Decrease in earnings from medical practices attributable to escalating expenditures
The rise in inflation has impacted medical practices in Germany as well. According to the Federal Statistical Office, these practices experienced an average increase in expenses of 11.0% in 2022 compared to the previous year. This coincided with a consumer price increase of 6.9%. Consequently, the overall average expenses per medical practice increased from 420,000 euros in 2021 to 466,000 euros in 2022.
The revenue increase was only 5.3% at 796,000 euros, leading to a decrease in the average net income per practice by 1.5% to 331,000 euros in 2022, as reported by the statistics office. It was noted that these figures are heavily influenced by high-revenue and high-expense practices. Half of all medical practices managed revenues of up to 487,000 euros and a net income of no more than 230,000 euros.
The net income does not equate to the doctors' profit or income. It signifies the outcome of the entire practice's financial year, excluding costs related to practice takeovers and insurances like health, disability, pension, and nursing care for the practice owners.
Not accounting for interdisciplinary professional associations (BAG/association practices) and medical care centers (MVZ), the average revenue per medical practice rose by 2.0% to 669,000 euros in 2022.
Average net incomes degenerated in dental and psychotherapeutic practices in 2022 as well. Dental practices maintained an average revenue of 790,000 euros, marginally unchanged. However, expenses escalated by 7.1%, causing a 13.5% decrease in net income per practice to 243,000 euros.
Psychotherapeutic practices, meanwhile, saw their average revenue climb by 0.8% to 128,000 euros. Yet, their expenses surged by 11.1%, leading to a 3.3% decrease in net income per practice to 88,000 euros.
Psychotherapists in these medical practices may be experiencing similar financial challenges. Despite a minor revenue increase of 0.8% to 128,000 euros for psychotherapeutic practices in 2022, the substantial rise in expenses by 11.1% led to a decrease in net income, falling by 3.3%.
The financial strain faced by psychotherapists in these practices might necessitate adjustments in their cost management strategies.
