Dispute over emergency services: Who pays for wrong trips in Brandenburg?

Dispute over emergency services: Who pays for wrong trips in Brandenburg?

In Brandenburg, things are boiling in the healthcare system: the dispute over the financing of the emergency services has now reached escalating levels. The main point of discussion is the so-called “mistaken trips”, which are operations in which no patient is transported to the hospital. Health insurance companies have so far refused to cover these costs. What followed was a heated dispute between the health insurance companies and the districts and independent cities, which continued until the first calls were made for citizens to pay fees for recalled ambulances. The Tagesspiegel is currently reporting that a compromise was reached through the mediation of Health Minister Britta Müller. Nevertheless, the fundamental dispute over financing remains unresolved and the state parliament is calling on the federal government to quickly pass the “Emergency Care Reform Act”.

The need for federal regulation is urgently emphasized. As SPD MP Julia Sahi states, the rescue service should be free of charge for citizens. This is also supported by Jouleen Gruhn from BSW, who points out that more and more missions are being recorded in which patients are not in acute danger to their lives, which further fuels the discussion. The financial burden on districts and cities caused by incorrect trips is enormous and must be addressed urgently.

Financing questions and possible solutions

The demands even go so far that the financing of emergency transport in outpatient care structures and telemedical support are included in the discussion. According to a report on aerzteblatt.de, the coalition of SPD and BSW emphasizes the importance of clear regulations, also in order to legally secure the services of the emergency services. In the same breath, Daniela Oeynhausen from the AfD criticized the lack of state funding regulations. Your party is committed to a clear solution that sets itself apart from nationwide regulations.

As part of the debate about the rescue service, the application for a state program to purchase automated external defibrillators was also rejected. There are clearly different views among the parties; While some considered the proposal to be sensible, others emphasized that such purchases should be financed at the district level and by the municipalities.

Operations and costs in the rescue service