Opposes Imposing Penalties for Neglected Medical Consultations (Lauterbach)
Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has criticized doctors for charging patients for missed appointments without proper notice. "Doctors are correct in viewing no-shows as a medical anomaly rather than an excuse for fines," the SPD politician stated. He urged patients to inform their doctors in advance if they can't make an appointment.
Medical facilities are often congested, particularly with general practitioners, as a result of the complex fee structure and limited budgets. The minister declared, "We'll tackle both issues with the Supply Strengthening Act."
Previously, "Bild" newspaper reported that, as per the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV), six out of ten clinics were battling problems with missed appointments. Meanwhile, patients complain of having difficulty scheduling appointments. KBV chair Andreas Gassen justifies no-show fees due to idle time in clinics. However, the AOK health insurance fund also disagrees with no-show fees and advocates for improved appointment management in clinics.
Other medical facilities might struggle similarly with missed appointments due to the intricate fee structure and funding constraints. Patients should consider informing other healthcare providers about any scheduling changes to avoid being labeled as 'others' causing inconvenience.
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