Professional societies criticize the current support for
During Intensive care and emergency physicians in Germany to exhaustion, stated medical professional societies, hospital stay, according to the current draft law on a large part of the additional financial burden due to the Corona-crisis headquarters.
The German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive and emergency medicine e. V. and the German society for cardiology – heart and cardiovascular research e. V. to criticize the current draft law on the compensation of the financial burden for the hospitals. The professional societies fear that the Corona-crisis could drive many hospitals into Bankruptcy.
The hospitals prepare for out of your own pocket
In the hospitals, it’s preparing feverishly for the upcoming wave of Covid-19-Concerned. Entire floors will be vacated and empty, medications purchased, some of which are five times as expensive as usual, and a new intensive care beds with ventilators were purchased. When looking at the draft law, the professional societies stated that they remain according to the current regulations on a large part of the cost of the seat.
Sharp criticism of the DIVI
“The design is not so definitely acceptable”, says Professor Uwe Janssens, President of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive and emergency medicine (DIVI), in an opinion to the draft law. Minister Spahn had broken his word to the clinics. Even the improvements of the draft law were only “a drop in the bucket,” says Janssens. The DIVI calls, therefore, on serious Changes!
A Sample Calculation
According to Janssens, the chief physician of the clinic for Internal medicine and Internal intensive medicine at the St.-Antonius-Hospital in Eschweiler has to pay for his clinic, about 95,000 euros for each newly-built intensive care bed. Add to this that the prices will rise due to the high demand on an ongoing basis. “The Minister initially wanted to refund the € 30,000 for these beds, in the rectification of the bill he now offers 50,000 euros for each new intensive care unit with a respirator option,” explains Janssens. Per bed clinics to remain to a minimum of EUR 45,000 seats.
It’s not about enrichment
“To be clear no one of us in the clinic want to enrich themselves in the current Situation,” stresses Janssen. “We are Doctors – we want to help!” But no employee in the hospital should fear about the pandemic, the Bankruptcy threatens. The current Situation is driving hospitals into financial Ruin.
DIVI calls for quick and unbureaucratic support
Janssens and his colleagues expect from the government a compensation of all costs – including Overtime, intensive care beds, ventilators, protective equipment and medications. “The hospitals are now allowed to be left alone,” says Janssens. Otherwise, the threat of a massive loss of confidence in the policy.
Here are the problems with the current draft law, according to DIVI:
- Increase in price for protection equipment are not taken into account (prices before and during the crisis: SURGICAL mask 3 cents vs. 50 cents to 1 Euro; FFP2 breath protection mask, depending on the version 11 to 60 cents vs. 7 to 10 Euro).
- More consumption of protective clothing was not included.
- Overtime hours were not taken into account.
- Problems, which was due to the Laying of patients in old people’s homes, short term care, rehab facilities are not taken into account.
- The Engass in the case of drug procurement, as well as the rising prices were not observed.
- The reimbursed cost for ICU beds is not sufficient.
Here are the requirements of the DIVI
The DIVI calls, therefore, on a lump-sum amount for each of the newly created intensive care bed between 85,000 and 100,000 Euro, which is paid immediately and the updating of the budget by the year 2019 in the year 2020.
DGK is expressed also major concerns
The DIVI is not the only professional society that complains about the lack of offsets. Also the German society for cardiology – heart and circulatory research (DGK) is critical of the claims. The DGK welcome the efforts to curb the further spread of SARS-CoV-2, but the compensation for the COVID-19-related financial burdens for the hospitals and other health facilities reach so short, that the DGK consider the scheme with great concern.
Specialist companies familiar to the Minister of health
“The exceptional situation in which the health system is in the framework of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, is transparent and ubiquitous,” writes a takeover of the DGK, in an opinion for the cost. The pawls have relied on the statement of the Federal Minister, that the current economic burden may not be a lever to withdraw in consequence of the Corona, with the crisis in hospitals, the basis of existence. On this basis, we have implemented the necessary measures.
Trust has not paid off
“The financial Commitments in the present bill, but also from the point of view of the DGK to the previously made Promises and based on legitimate expectations is by Far not”, criticized the DGK. The following points holds the DGK of the government:
- In spite of the provision in the proposed law there would be a shortfall for each of the newly established intensive care bed.
- The compensation for the right way held the bed capacity was in any way appropriate.
- Additional staff costs incurred outside of those for nurses, would not be compensated.
Bureaucratic hurdles must also be overcome
Add to this that the structure of intensive-care capacity through the proposed regulation is unduly delayed. There had to be approval for the hospital planning, the competent state authorities. This would lead to an unacceptable time delay.
DGK calls for adaptation of the draft law
“The unprecedented medical challenge that only through a community effort by all in the health system operating sectors is feasible, may not be of the concern for any economic disadvantages as a result of such a commitment is accompanied,” says Professor Dr. Andreas Zeiher, President of the DGK. “We therefore call on the political decision-makers to take account of the draft law accordingly.” An ongoing discussion on the financing of hospital services in this Situation is neither for the population of logical nor the service providers in the health system to communicate the DGK. (vb)