Encouraging specialized medical visits through incentives?
The Federal Minister of Health, Nina Warken, is considering a new healthcare access system aimed at improving the efficiency of the healthcare system and ensuring timely specialist appointments for patients.
Under this proposed system, patients would primarily visit a general practitioner (GP) for referral to specialists. The Association of General Practitioners (AGP) supports this plan, citing the benefits it could offer to older, chronically ill patients who might require more coordination of medications and frequent doctor's appointments.
Warken is also considering financial incentives to facilitate more targeted access to specialist appointments. However, the details regarding these incentives are still under discussion. The AGP, in its statement, did not express any concerns about the potential need for patients to visit a GP first before seeing a specialist.
The system is part of the coalition agreement between the Union and SPD, but the specifics of its implementation are yet to be determined. The AGP noted the effects of demographic change on practices, particularly with older patients having more chronic illnesses and requiring more doctor's appointments.
The health insurance companies currently involved in the existence programs for general practitioner practices are the regional statutory health insurance funds cooperating with the Bremen Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KV Bremen). They jointly finance a support package to incentivize new settlements and support existing practices, specifically in Bremerhaven. The roles of these entities include co-financing the package and defining flexible funding measures such as retention and starter premiums for doctors, differentiated by medical specialty.
Warken emphasized that the introduction of the new access system cannot happen immediately. She also highlighted the importance of further digitalization and a larger role for pharmacies in the new system. If the system doesn't work in a practice, patients should have the option of being treated by a specialist or in a hospital.
The German Foundation for Patient Protection has highlighted deficiencies in the number of GPs, functional digitalization, and pharmacies with medical services. Warken stated that ensuring GPs do not become a bottleneck is crucial before implementing the new system. She also posed the question of whether patients would have to pay a fee for direct specialist appointments or receive a bonus if they first visit a GP.
In conclusion, the proposed new healthcare access system aims to facilitate more targeted access to specialist appointments but details regarding financial incentives are still under discussion. The AGP supports the coalition plans, referring to existing GP programs with health insurers. The implementation of this system is not expected to happen overnight, and further discussions are expected to address concerns and define the specifics of its operation.
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