Berlin (dpa / lby) – Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach is open to regionally more flexible solutions when it comes to the planned reorganization of hospitals in Germany, but insists on uniform rules. The SPD politician made it clear on Thursday in Berlin after consultations with the federal states that there was now more talk about opening clauses. This is necessary because otherwise established structures would change too quickly. Nationwide, however, it must be specified what should be possible.
The Bavarian Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) and Hamburg Senator Melanie Schlotzhauer (SPD) made it clear that opening clauses are urgently needed. They also demanded that the federal government contribute to the costs of the planned reorganization.
The legislative plans should aim to classify the clinic network into three levels of care and to finance them accordingly – from basic care close to home to a second level with other offers up to maximum care providers such as university clinics. The planned second stage is in view of possible opening clauses.
Lauterbach said: “It cannot be that a cardiological department in Hesse is defined differently than in Baden-Württemberg.” Because the planned reimbursement of costs for the provision of certain services should also be identical nationwide. As an example of possible opening clauses, he mentioned that there must be a special department for strokes – but the requirement could be considered met if it was available in a neighboring building in the network.
Changes to the reimbursement system via flat rates for treatment cases are also planned. In order not to be economically dependent on more and more cases, clinics should in future be rewarded with a share for the provision of services.
