Lauterbach refuses to shell out a fine for skipped medical consultations
The head of the National Association of Mandatory Health Insurance Doctors (KBV), Andreas Gassen, suggested imposing a fine on health insurance providers due to the financial burden many medical clinics are experiencing. "It's more than frustrating when patients schedule appointments at clinics and then don't show up – clinics can't reschedule these appointments," Gassen stated to Bild.
Gassen proposed a feasible approach: levying a fine on health insurance providers if their insured patients fail to turn up for their appointments without a valid reason. "With this scenario in mind, the notion of needing appointments to be scheduled quicker and more frequently is downright amusing," Gassen remarked.
According to Bild, some medical clinics have begun charging patients a 40 euro fee for missing appointments without justification, and in certain situations, up to 100 euros for multiple no-shows.
Gassen's suggestion of fining health insurance providers could potentially reduce the number of no-shows, alleviating the financial strain on medical clinics. If the fine implementation is successful, it might incentivize insured patients to attend their scheduled appointments.
