Associations - Statutory health insurance physicians warn of growing gaps in care
The Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Bavaria (KVB) expects growing problems in the provision of medical care by practices. More and more regions in Bavaria are being classified as "undersupplied", said KVB Chairman Christian Pfeiffer at his association's annual press conference in Munich on Wednesday.
The KVB currently operates two GP practices in Marktredwitz and Ering am Inn as so-called own facilities because no doctors can be found who would like to run practices there as entrepreneurs. Pfeiffer announced that five more in-house facilities would be launched in Bavaria next year. The KVB resorted to this emergency measure for the first time two years ago and now it has to be applied more and more often.
One of the main reasons for the supply problems is the growing dissatisfaction of many doctors with their own practices, added KVB Vice-Chairman Peter Heinz: "The mood has rarely been as bad as it is at the moment." The increase in health insurance fees is not nearly enough to cover the increased costs. As a result, practices are finding it increasingly difficult to retain medical assistants (MFA) through financial incentives. MFAs are increasingly being poached by clinics and other healthcare facilities, complained Heinz: "There is a battle for specialist medical staff."
The KVB board member responsible for psychotherapy, Claudia Ritter-Rupp, also sees risks for patients in other respects in the federal government's policy. The planned easing of restrictions on the use of cannabis is "highly problematic". This is because there is a risk of cannabis triggering developmental disorders and psychoses, especially in younger people. The federal government should therefore respond to the warnings that various medical associations have been issuing for some time, Ritter-Rupp demanded.
However, the KVB leadership also acknowledges that Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) has taken initiatives that are in the interests of doctors and patients. The plan that a certificate should only be required from the fourth day of illness so that parents can receive sick pay for children is "absolutely in the right direction", said KVB boss Pfeiffer. A de minimis limit for checks on whether practices pay sufficient attention to costs when prescribing medicines and medical aids, which the Federal Ministry of Health wants to introduce, is also "the right step". However, such steps must also be implemented, said Pfeiffer.
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- In response to the supply gap in medical care, the KVB in Marktredwitz, led by Christian Pfeiffer, operates two GP practices as their own facilities.
- The Federal Government's plan to ease restrictions on cannabis use is a cause for concern for KVB board member Claudia Ritter-Rupp, as it could lead to developmental disorders and psychoses in younger people.
- The Associations in Bavaria, including the KVB, are struggling with a growing number of undersupplied regions due to the increasing dissatisfaction of doctors with their own practices.
- During the annual press conference in Munich, Christian Pfeiffer announced that five more in-house facilities will be launched by the KVB in Bavaria next year to address the supply gap.
- Peter Heinz, the Vice-Chairman of the KVB, highlighted the issue of retaining medical assistants (MFAs) due to financial incentives, as they are being poached by clinics and other healthcare facilities.
Source: www.stern.de
