in January, Federal Minister of health, Jens Spahn (CDU) intervened in the question of what services should pay for health insurance and for which patient will have to pay. Now the Federal health Minister is working again, his Power at this point to expand – much to the Annoyance of the SPD.

Spahn wool authorise in some cases, “the Ministry of health on principle, to decide alone and independently, what is the new examination and treatment methods should in the future be of cash funds”, criticized the health-policy spokesperson of the SPD parliamentary group, Sabine Dittmar. This is “the wrong way”.

Spahn had tried already the planned date for the service and supply act, to write additional competencies in the legal text. Now he has started a second attempt, a corresponding passage in a draft law to accommodate.

“We reject the. The will not come”

Actually, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) decides of Doctors, funds, and clinics, largely through the benefit catalogue of the sickness funds. According to Spahn, to complete the panel his reviews in the future, at the latest after two rather than three years. Otherwise, you should be able to decide the Ministry, by regulation, with the consent of the Bundesrat.

The date of service and supply act, Spahns foray had been “good reasons” prevented, said Dittmar. “This proposal is not better, only because he receives it in a subsequent legislative process.” Decisions by the G-BA would have to be, without a doubt, made fast. By Ministerial decree, however, would be completely the wrong way. “That would not only raise liability questions, but also questions the safety of the patient.”

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Even the SPD-health expert Karl Lauterbach granted Spahns a cancellation of projects. “We reject the. This is not going to come,” he told the “Handelsblatt”. “We want to worsen the well-proven System in any manner that the Minister may decide on Fund benefits.”

The G-BA warned in a statement in front of a “step back into the medical middle ages.” By Ministerial regulation methods could go with a completely uncertain Benefits and harms of the service catalogue of the statutory health insurance (GKV).

the Chairman of The Board, Joseph hedges, spoke of a gateway for health care to the randomness and volume of the articulation of lobby interests. The plans were also opposed to the principle that cash benefits would have to be economical.

irb/AFP/dpa