Specialists in Berlin: No more new patients accept - what are the consequences?
Specialists in Berlin: No more new patients accept - what are the consequences?
Specialist deficiency in Berlin: New cash patients without chance of appointments
The situation for legally insured patients in Berlin is increasing increasing if you need a specialist appointment. More and more resident doctors are refusing to accept new health insurance patients, which can lead to dramatic consequences.
Reasons for rejection of new patients
The tense situation explains family doctor Katrin Osterberg from Buckow: "The number of patients per doctor was reduced by ten percent, which forced doctors to cover their budget with fewer contacts. In addition, there is no need for any financial incentive to record new cash patients."
The abolition of the new patient regulation in 2023 increases the problem because doctors do not receive any additional remuneration for the inclusion of new patients. Despite the financial losses, general practitioner Osterberg continues to start acute new patients, which leads to a significant deficit of 15,000 to 20,000 euros per quarter.
Legal basis for the treatment of insured
According to a spokeswoman for the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, doctors who are admitted to the contract medical care are obliged to treat law insured persons. However, exceptions can be made for reasons of capacity, a situation that will occur more and more often due to the increasing medical and skilled workers.
Measures to improve patient care
Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach presented a draft law for better rewarding general practitioners in May to close the gaps in care. Criticism comes from the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, which criticizes that the draft disregarded the financial support for specialists.
In order to give the cash patient still access to specialists, general practitioners can issue urgency transfers, and the KV-Service 116117-termine.de offers free dates.
experiences of those affected
Experiences of those affected such as Carsten (43) from Hohenschönhausen illustrate the difficulties of receiving a specialist appointment. "Orthopedists are particularly difficult to reach.
Karin and Michael (both 66) criticize the modern way of making an appointment and dealing with new patients. The lack of specialists leads to new patients often rejected, which leads to frustration and despair in the population.
- Nag