Rescue trips in Brandenburg: Citizens hope for free help!

Rescue trips in Brandenburg: Citizens hope for free help!

Märkisch-Oderland, Deutschland - in Brandenburg, the situation is heading for the costs of rescue trips. Eight counties are currently negotiating with the health insurance companies about a toll -free care for patients. The goal of the talks is clear: rescue trips should remain free of charge for the citizens. But the clock ticks, because the deadline until June 30, within which no cost notices for rescue operations may be sent, is closer. n-tv reports that the negotiations have so far been constructively, but the pressure to act is enormous. The affected counties are Barnim, Oberhavel, Märkisch-Oderland, Oberspreewald-Lausitz, Oder-Spree, Potsdam-Mittelmark, Teltow-Fläming and Spree-Neiße.

The Minister of Health Britta Müller has announced another meeting for June 30th to reach an agreement, while the talks are continued intensively. New regulations have been in effect since January 1: the health insurance companies only pay fixed flat rates for rescue operations. In some counties, such as Märkisch-Oderland, this led to the fact that fee notices are sent to patients. However, other independent cities have already made agreements with the health insurers, for example, Frankfurt (Oder) adhering to its previous calculation, which further fueled the conflict. rbb24 reports that the responsibility for the current situation is no longer rejected by the health insurance companies.

The background of the dispute

The dispute over the costs for emergency services already has a five -year history in Brandenburg. So far, trips without hospitalization have been mainly discussed, now all emergency services are on the agenda. While some counties such as Teltow-Fläming have already started preparing information letters for patients, the costs for the emergency services have increased significantly in recent years. MAZ-Online explained that the costs for one in Märkisch A ambulance at around 200 euros and for an emergency vehicle even 250 euros. In Teltow-Fläming, patients even have to pay 589.09 euros themselves, since the health insurance companies only take over 794.91 euros.

The new regulations and the rising costs have led to a threatening situation. Possibilities of contradictions for patients are given, but success is uncertain, and many are concerned about the financial burden. Politicians from the opposition parties, such as AfD and CDU, are already demanding that the country take over the fees until a sustainable solution is found. All of this creates a nervous mood in the counties, while the Ministry of Health is optimistic about a solution.