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District Administrator Frey sounds the alarm: two billion euros in cuts endanger health!
Starnberg's district administrator Stefan Frey criticizes the federal government's austerity plans in the hospital that endanger health care.
District Administrator Frey sounds the alarm: two billion euros in cuts endanger health!
In an emotional video message that is going viral on social media, Starnberg district administrator Stefan Frey appears angry in a hospital bed and expresses clear criticism of the planned cuts in the health sector. In his appeal, he calls on the federal government to immediately change the decision to save 1.8 billion euros in hospitals. Frey highlights that these measures will not only endanger the economic stability of the facilities, but will also have a direct impact on public health care, particularly in the treatment of heart attacks, strokes and dialysis patients. According to Radio Oberland, Frey's assessment is part of a broader debate about hospital financing that recently came on the agenda at the Bavarian District Council.
The planned austerity program is seen by many as problematic. The savings should not only affect everyday care, but also endanger the innovative strength and long-term planning security of hospitals. Health ministries emphasize that hospitals that are anchored in the state hospital plan receive reimbursement of treatment costs from health insurance companies. This billing is done via the DRG system, which includes over 1,200 billable flat rates. Remuneration for somatic treatments has been regulated by the Hospital Financing Act (KHG) since 2005, and yet experts are still taking a critical look at the upcoming cuts and their possible false incentives.
Concern about public health care
“There is something to be said,” says Frey, formulating a clear message: the planned savings could massively affect the performance of hospitals. A decline in infrastructure investment could mean that innovative treatments that are essential for patients with acute illnesses can no longer be guaranteed. This point is also emphasized by many health care experts.
In addition, the discussion about the future of hospitals continues. The shortage of care is a well-known problem and is exacerbated by the cuts. Since 2020, nursing staff have no longer been remunerated through flat rates per case, but rather through a cost-covering nursing budget. This aspect also contributes to concern for the quality of patient care. The hospital reform of the last legislative period aims to reduce disincentives, but how effective these measures are remains to be seen.
A look at developments in hospital financing
The average length of stay for patients in hospitals has fallen from 14 days in 1991 to 7.2 days in 2023. This shows that a lot has happened in the process organization, even if there have always been challenges. While collaborations and mergers have increased, the DRG system remains a double-edged sword that both creates transparency and can create disincentives.
The coming debate about the future of hospital financing will be exciting. It remains to be seen whether the federal government will be able to find a solution that guarantees both financial savings and quality in health care. Psychotherapeutic care, which is regulated by the PEPP system, could be particularly affected by these cuts. These challenges will certainly be the focus of future discussions.
District Administrator Stefan Frey has initiated an important discussion with his open criticism and his commitment to better health care. It remains to be hoped that those responsible take these warnings seriously and take action before it is too late.