In Baden-Württemberg, the reform could push hospital deficits from 880 million euros this year to 1.7 billion euros next year. The Marienhospital in Stuttgart – one of the country’s best clinics – filed for insolvency this week. More essential hospitals could soon be on the brink of collapse.
Frederik Wenz, Chief Medical Director of Freiburg University Hospital, criticized the burden: “Of course audits are necessary. But we can no longer afford this insane effort.” He estimates that billing bureaucracy absorbs three to five percent of healthcare workers – about 50,000 professionals in Germany. They generate little or no added value and are unavailable for patient care.
Baden-Württemberg’s Health Minister Oliver Hildenbrand (Greens) rejects the blanket increase in audit quotas. Johannes Bauernfeind, CEO of the Baden-Württemberg AOK, considers stricter audits necessary for cost containment and proposes “case dialogues” between insurers and hospitals.
Source: www.faz.net
