Encouraging specialist consultations via financial rewards?
In a bid to improve the healthcare system, Federal Health Minister Nina Warken is considering the implementation of financial incentives for more targeted access to specialist appointments.
However, Minister Warken has emphasized that the introduction of such a system cannot be done overnight. She is keen to ensure that general practitioners do not become a bottleneck in the system.
If a patient cannot secure an appointment within the stipulated timeframe at a general practitioner's practice, Minister Warken suggests that they should be able to be treated by a specialist or in a hospital.
The proposed system guarantees an appointment within a certain timeframe for patients. However, the German Foundation for Patient Protection has raised concerns, stating that there are still not enough general practitioners, pharmacies with medical services, and functional digitization.
The coalition of Union and SPD aims to introduce a binding system where patients primarily go to a general practitioner for referral to specialists. However, the Foundation warns that deficiencies in these areas must be addressed before a primary care physician obligation can be introduced.
Minister Warken also mentioned the need for further digitization and a greater role for pharmacies in the healthcare system. Yet, the name of the speaker from the General Practitioners' Association who supports the coalition project is not currently available.
This move by Minister Warken is part of a broader effort to reform the healthcare system and ensure that patients receive timely and efficient care. The details of the proposed system are still under discussion, and it remains to be seen how it will be implemented in practice.
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