Nursing staff are urgently needed, many are overworked. Therefore, better conditions should be forthcoming, also when it comes to money. In order to enforce this, new legal regulations are now taking effect. But where are the costs?
Patient representatives are taking a stand against ever-increasing costs for those in need of care. In addition, from this Thursday there will be a mandatory tariff payment in geriatric care.
“Politicians have failed to properly counter-finance the collective wages for nurses – which we of course welcome -” said the President of the VdK Social Association, Verena Bentele. Many facility providers and service providers passed on the costs to those in need of care. From September 1st, supply contracts may only exist with providers who pay according to tariffs or something similar.
1000 euros one-off payment required
With regard to the overall increase in co-payments, the German Foundation for Patient Protection criticized that there had not been such a dramatic development since long-term care insurance came into existence. “The financial hardship of those in need of care cannot be put into words,” said board member Eugen Brysch of the German Press Agency. “Therefore, the federal government must immediately initiate a one-off payment of 1,000 euros and a dynamization of care services to the level of inflation.” She alone is legally responsible for the financial resources of this social insurance.
The requirement for tariff payment in geriatric care had been initiated by the old black-red federal government – also in order to keep and attract urgently needed caregivers in the profession. In the meantime, around 90 percent of all facilities have given corresponding mandatory feedback on tariff loyalty, as the Federal Association of General Local Health Insurance Funds (AOK) announced in response to a dpa request. At the end of an official deadline of April 30, it was 78 percent. Since then, almost 9,900 late registrations have been received from institutions to implement the regulations.
“The implementation is on the right track”
The head of the AOK federal association, Carola Reimann, told the dpa that the regulations on adherence to tariffs are associated with considerable effort for the care insurance funds and care facilities. “But the implementation is on the right track.” In principle, the goal of appropriate payment for employees in care is supported. However, the exact financial implications are unclear.
“What is certain is that higher wages will also lead to higher costs,” explained Reinmann. “There is a risk that they will be passed on to those in need of care in the form of higher personal contributions.” In view of the dramatic financial situation of long-term care insurance, which has its back to the wall anyway, sustainable solutions are urgently needed.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, facilities now have three options in order to be approved for care: They can conclude a collective agreement themselves, pay at least in accordance with a regionally applicable collective agreement or pay at least the amount of the average of all collective wages in the region. The AOK Federal Association has taken over a consolidation and plausibility check of the feedback from the care facilities.
The federal government gives a billion euros as a grant
To finance this, the care contribution for people aged 23 and over without children has already risen from 3.3 to 3.4 percent. In addition, the federal government now gives one billion euros a year as a subsidy to long-term care insurance. Part of the reform also includes relief for residents. Since the beginning of the year, in addition to the payments from the long-term care insurance fund, you have received a surcharge that increases with the length of your stay in the home. However, the shares to be paid by yourself have recently continued to rise and were only partially cushioned by this, as an evaluation by the Association of Substitute Health Insurance Funds showed.
The background to this is that nursing care insurance – unlike health insurance – only bears part of the costs for pure nursing care. For residents of the home, there are also additional costs for accommodation, food and also for investments in the facilities. VdK President Bentele also referred to increases for rising energy costs. For many people in need of care, the only option is to go to the social welfare office. “We also fear that many people cared for at home will forgo benefits.” Long-term care insurance must finally take over all long-term care services.
Source: Stern
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
