Health Insurance Funds' Spending on Hospitals Surpasses the 100 Billion Barrier for the First Time
Hospital bed occupancy rates have taken a dive, hovering around 70%, yet costs are skyrocketing alarmingly, as stated by Susanne Wagenmann, the board chair of the GKV-Spitzenverband. "It's unsustainable, that much is obvious," she emphasized.
The association advocated for streamlining unneeded services provided by medical facilities, aiming to improve resource management. Additionally, they proposed implementing uniform standards across all hospitals nationwide. "In an era of societal doubt, social stability, which undeniably includes a dependable healthcare system, is a crucial foundation for our society's unity," Wagenmann backed up.
The hospital reform proposal drafted by Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) received criticism from the Spitzenverband. "State governments have held their ground financially in many cases, leading to increased expenses with minimal hopes for crucial structural improvements," the association expressed.
As per the GKV, statutory health insurance funds disbursed a total of €49.9 billion to hospitals back in 2006. By 2023, this figure jumped to €93.9 billion, and the current year could see it surpass €100 billion.
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The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds in Germany has highlighted the need for reform, advocating for cost-cutting measures in hospitals and the implementation of uniform standards across all facilities. This is in response to the dramatic increase in expenditure, with hospitals now receiving over €100 billion annually from health insurance funds, a figure that has more than doubled since 2006. Despite the high costs, hospital bed occupancy rates remain relatively low, raising concerns about the sustainability of current healthcare spending. In Berlin, hospitals are no exception, with their expenses also contributing to this national trend.
