Reimann: Fees for pharmaceutical services are set far too high
15.06.2022 16:49
The CEO of the AOK Federal Association, Dr. Carola Reimann, reacted with clear criticism to the recently published arbitration award on pharmaceutical services and the reactions of the medical associations. The now departed Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn initiated the legal regulations for pharmaceutical services in the last legislative period.
“We are open to pharmaceutical services, provided they are agreed regionally, decentrally and voluntarily. The fact that they are now being enforced as a mandatory program by law is a late gift from the former Federal Minister of Health to pharmacists. In our opinion, the arbitration board's current decision on the scope and remuneration of these services will not lead to better quality care for the insured. The fees, for example for a simple service like measuring blood pressure, are set far too high. This is disproportionate to the remuneration of practicing doctors for the corresponding services.
However, the medical associations are completely wrong in their conclusion that the services provided by practicing doctors are underfunded. The GKV finances outpatient care very well and adequately. Expenditure on outpatient statutory health care increased by a good 5.1 percent from 2019 to 2020 alone - from 40.7 to 42.7 billion euros. Given the dramatic financial situation of the GKV, there is currently no scope for financial benefits, neither in the direction of pharmacies nor in the direction of doctors' practices. The deficits of the statutory health insurance companies are increasing every day. In order to get this under control, it is necessary to address not only income but also expenses. A mix of measures is needed here – not just in the pharmaceutical sector, but also in outpatient statutory health care.”