A look at the numbers leaves the viewer in disbelief to stunned: The Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) assumed in August 2024 from an annual misalignment of 87.5 million euros in the same year. Three months and a National Council election later, the forecast value in November was 481 million euros. The expected losses have more than quinted within a quarter.
The figures in the pre -compensation until 2028 are even more dramatic: Every year until the end of the legislative period, the ÖGK has been based on the relapses of the departure since November. A minus of 106 million became more than one billion euros in 2028.
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The figures became known to the public in the middle of the government negotiations, but not the underlying forecasting. Members of the board of directors wanted to know how this came about before the December meeting. According to OÖN information, the point was taken from the agenda at short notice. The medium -term planning was decided with a majority in the February meeting on the Board of Directors and the Annual General Meeting. But the votes are becoming more: the employee representatives in the state positions from Upper Austria and Salzburg have already voted against budget and planning in recent years. This year the trade unionists in Styria and Lower Austria joined for the first time.
“The figures are catastrophic and not serious,” says Thom Kimberger. The SP trade unionist and thus representative in the Salzburg State Office was present at the meeting in February. He represented the prevented Upper Austrian Albert Maringer. He has explained his rejection in writing- and these statements that the OÖN are present have tough: “The ÖGK has not had any revenue and performance controlling that deserves this name for years.” Maringer is an experienced member of the self -government in the regional health insurance company (GKK) and was an opponent of the same before the cash merger. Since 2013, the Voestalpine works council has been working for GKK Upper Austria and now for the health insurance fund.
“Do not accept any liability”
He criticizes in the letter: “In the OÖGKK we started every session with a detailed report on the core topics of contractual partner control, economic discussions and follow -up costs. I can hardly remember anything in this direction in the ÖGK. ” The ÖGK is no longer able to develop strength in the federal states. Maringer confirms his criticism on request. The organization of the ÖGK is constructed centrally, at the regional level one is hardly able – this, although the state office committees (i.e. regional self -government) is according to the law for a number of topics of the ÖGK. There are grown structures that speak for different regional approaches and thus efficient solutions for the patients. Everything is subordinate to the standardization. “Now we live with the numbers.” In writing, Maringer said before the meeting: he was not ready to accept liability under the framework conditions.
Kimberger summarizes the criticism from the federal states: “What annoys us is that it is one of the most financially strong institutions in the country with income of 21 billion euros. Nevertheless, there are no control instances that earn this name. ” In a company, management would not have been extended with this current account, criticizes Kimberger. General Director Bernhard Wurzer, appointed in 2019, was extended as of July 2024.
In the ÖGK, the camps of the centralists and the prevented regionalists have been irreconcilable since the merger. The promised patient billion defended the then responsible FP Minister Beate Hartinger-Klein in a parliamentary committee of inquiry as a “marketing-moth”.
In the ÖGK, the dramatic deterioration of the forecast with the poor economic development and the stagnating income situation derived from it is explained. This is the case with an aging population, a record increase in visits to the doctor, “which was not so predictable”. Patient steering would also lead to increased visits in the resident area. In the ÖGK you can also refer to an improved offer as a result of the cash merger. “98 percent of the income goes directly to the patient’s benefits.”
Source: Nachrichten
