Shifting Tides: The Push for Zero-Cost Emergency Ambulance Rides in Brandenburg
Free emergency rescue operation: No settlement reached concerning expenses yet - Unresolved expense dilemma: no consensus reached on payments for the rescue operation
Counties in Brandenburg are sailing through the final stretch of negotiations to offer free ambulance rides to patients, but a resolution with the insurers remains elusive. The ultimate goal is to eliminate the financial burden for citizens during rescue operations by June 30.
"Discussions between the eight counties encumbered by fixed budgets and health insurance associations are continuing in a collaborative and solution-oriented manner," said Johannes Wagner, Director of the County Council, upon being queried. "All partners are committed to developing a secure and legally sound framework for the future determination of ambulance costs."
A scheduled gathering of the counties and insurers at the Health Ministry led by Minister Britta Müller (independent, associated with BSW) will take place on June 30. Although a consensus has been reached on the depreciation of ambulances, no agreement has been reached on false alarms yet. The parties find themselves under a tight timeline due to the upcoming expiration of the peace obligation, with counties facing escalating losses in revenues.
Fixed rates lead to losses for counties
Since January 1, insurers have been paying fixed rates for emergency services until a new cost calculation has been agreed upon between the counties and insurers. The counties of Barnim, Oberhavel, Märkisch-Oderland, Oberspreewald-Lausitz, Oder-Spree, Potsdam-Mittelmark, Teltow-Fläming, and Spree-Neiße have yet to secure an agreement with the insurers. The County Council considers these rates as illegal. In March, the county of Märkisch-Oderland commenced sending billing notices to patients.
The remaining counties and independent cities have reached a deal with the insurers. However, the city of Frankfurt (Oder) wishes to reconsider this agreement due to dwindling revenues, as reported by the "Märkische Oderzeitung" (June 3, print edition). The city seeks to monitor the negotiations of the eight counties. Yet, the financial burden should not fall on the citizens.
Ministry hopes for joint resolution
The Health Ministry has shown optimism in recent times. Department head for health, Michael Zaske, stated in the health committee on June 4 that both the counties and insurers are moving in the right direction. Anticipating the June 30 meeting, he expressed: "We hope to hear that there has been implementation of the agreements and that the joint cost-performance calculation is on the table."
- Brandenburg
- County
- Potsdam
- Final stretch
- Märkisch-Oderland
Enrichment Insights:
- The ongoing negotiations seek to establish free emergency ambulance rides for patients in Brandenburg, involving eight counties and health insurance associations.
- While progress has been made on several issues, there is still no consensus on the cost of non-emergency rides.
- The counties are facing financial difficulties due to the fixed-rate payments from the insurers, with some regions considering these payments to be illegal.
- A crucial meeting is planned for June 30 to finalize negotiations before the deadline. If successful, citizens will no longer receive cost notices for rescue operations.
- Some counties are experiencing revenue shortfalls due to the fixed-rate payments, which are insufficient to cover the costs of ambulance services.
- The Health Ministry has expressed its hope that the counties and insurers will reach a joint resolution before the deadline.
In light of the ongoing negotiations, the County Council in Brandenburg is striving to provide vocational training programs, particularly in the field of health-and-wellness, to help citizens cope with the physical and mental stress associated with medical-conditions. Simultaneously, they advocate for community aid programs that can offer support during general-news incidents, such as emergenciesrequiring zero-cost ambulance rides. This combined approach aims to promote a holistic approach towards public health and well-being in the cities of Potsdam, Barnim, Oberhavel, Märkisch-Oderland, Oberspreewald-Lausitz, Oder-Spree, Teltow-Fläming, and Spree-Neiße, as they navigate these challenging economic times during the final stretch of negotiations.
