Saxony criticizes agreement on hospital reform

Saxony's government has criticized the agreement on the controversial hospital reform. Federal Health Minister Lauterbach had failed to reach a consensus with the federal states on key issues, according to Saxony's Minister for Federal Affairs and Head of the State Chancellery, Conrad Clemens (CDU). Saxony had voted in favor of appealing to a mediation committee. However, this did not receive the required majority. The reform by Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) can therefore be implemented. It is intended to reduce the financial pressure on clinics and enforce more specialization.

New remuneration system planned

In essence, the current remuneration system with flat rates for treatment cases is to be changed. In future, clinics are to receive 60 percent of their remuneration simply for providing certain services. This is intended to eliminate incentives for more and more cases and interventions, some of which are not medically optimal.

New "service groups" are therefore also to form the basis for financing by the health insurance funds. They are intended to describe hospital treatments more precisely and ensure uniform national quality standards - for example in terms of specialist staff or treatment experience. A "transformation fund" worth billions is also to be set up to provide financial support for the reorganization.

Law to take effect over several years

The law is due to come into force on January 1, 2025, but the new structure will only be implemented over several years until 2029, meaning that patients will not feel the effects immediately. The network of 1,700 hospitals is also likely to become smaller. Many hospitals have been struggling for some time with financial difficulties, unoccupied beds and staff shortages. The federal states and the hospital sector had also called for bridging funding for hospitals until the reform takes effect.