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Rescue trips in Brandenburg: Citizens hope for free help!
Eight districts in Brandenburg, including Märkisch-Oderland, are negotiating free rescue trips until June 30, 2025.
Rescue trips in Brandenburg: Citizens hope for free help!
In Brandenburg the situation regarding the costs of rescue trips is getting worse. Eight districts are currently negotiating with health insurance companies about free care for patients. The aim of the talks is clear: rescue trips should remain free of charge for citizens. But the clock is ticking, because the deadline of June 30th, within which no cost notices for rescue operations may be sent, is approaching. n-tv reports that the negotiations have been constructive so far, but the pressure to act is enormous. The affected districts are Barnim, Oberhavel, Märkisch-Oderland, Oberspreewald-Lausitz, Oder-Spree, Potsdam-Mittelmark, Teltow-Fläming and Spree-Neiße.
Health Minister Britta Müller has announced another meeting on June 30 to reach an agreement, while intensive talks continue. New regulations have been in effect since January 1st: health insurance companies only pay fixed flat rates for rescue missions. In some districts, such as Märkisch-Oderland, this has led to fee notices being sent to patients. But other independent cities have already made agreements with the health insurance companies, with Frankfurt (Oder), for example, sticking to its previous calculation, which is further fueling the conflict. rbb24 reports that the health insurance companies are rejecting responsibility for the current situation, even though they no longer fully guarantee that the costs will be covered.
The background to the dispute
The dispute over the costs of emergency service trips has a five-year history in Brandenburg. Until now, the main focus was on trips without hospitalization, but now all emergency services trips are on the agenda. While some districts such as Teltow-Fläming have already started preparing information letters for patients, the costs for emergency services have increased significantly in recent years. maz online explains that in Märkisch-Oderland the cost of an ambulance is around 200 euros and for an emergency doctor vehicle even 250 euros. In Teltow-Fläming, patients even have to pay 589.09 euros themselves, as the health insurance companies only cover 794.91 euros.
The new regulations and rising costs have led to a threatening situation. Patients have the opportunity to appeal, but success is uncertain and many are concerned about the financial burden. Politicians from opposition parties such as the AfD and CDU are already demanding that the state cover the fees until a sustainable solution is found. All of this is creating a nervous mood in the districts, while the Ministry of Health is optimistically working towards a solution.