Bayern family doctors make front against health insurance

Hardened fronts between Bavarian GPs and the health insurances: Family doctors agree on the collective return of the Kassenärztliche approval.

22.12.2010

On Wednesday, the Bavarian family doctors gathered in Nuremberg to decide on the proposals of the Bayerisches Hausärzteverband (BHÄV) for the collective return of their cash approvals. The health insurance companies warn the family doctors before this momentous step. After the return of the admission the Bavarian physicians can treat no patients with a health insurance card. Thousands of family doctors are meeting at the moment and are currently voting on the return of the medical certificate.

Policy of interest to the detriment of patients
Already in the run-up to the event, the dispute between the family doctors and the health insurance in Bavaria has worsened, which culminated in the fact that the AOK Bavaria and the Bavarian Ersatzkassen their family doctor contracts due „serious breaches of contract“ terminated without notice. A few days later, the Ersatzkassen also terminated the family doctor contract. The BHÄV, however, was unimpressed by the drastic action and the growing criticism from ranks of the policy. In spite of everything, the association hopes to win the majority of Bavarian family physicians for the collective return of the cashier's licenses at today's meeting. So the fronts remain extremely hardened shortly before the vote. The health insurance companies and the BHÄV throw each other in a hastily issued press releases mutually interest policies on the backs of the patients and make the opposite side for imminent supply bottlenecks of the patients responsible.

Politicians criticize the approach of family doctors
If 60 percent of the Bavarian family physicians (3,813 of the voting members) decide at the meeting in the Nuremberg Arena for an exit from the cash system, this would be a hitherto unique process that could shake the entire German health care system. Thus, the nervousness is growing in the ranks of politics. The Bavarian Prime Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) warned the family doctors before, with the return of their cash register one „Red line“ To exceed. This can not accept a prime minister and no government, scolded Seehofer in the direction of the Bavarian family doctors. The state secretary of health Stefan Kapferer (FDP) also addressed the Bavarian doctors with admonishing words from Berlin: „Anyone leaving the POS system is no longer allowed to work as a panel doctor for the next six years“ emphasized Kapferer with regard to the financial consequences. Overall, however, the federal government was, given the threat of the Bavarian family doctors from the POS system to quit, but rather cautious. Such threats have already been given several times, so it should first be seen how the doctors actually decide, said a spokeswoman for the health department.

Consequences of the collective cash register return
The consequences of the collective return of the censuses for the patients actually remains unclear. While the BHÄV in the current press release again underlines its intention to negotiate after a successful exit with the health insurance immediately new, better endowed contracts, already declared six of the statutory Bavarian health insurance categorically reject the new conclusion of contracts with family doctors. Thus, the doctors would no longer be able to settle the treatment of legally insured persons after the 30th of March, 2011, and the patients would have to pay for the received medical services out of their own pocket. For example, the withdrawal of Bavarian GPs from the cash register system could trigger a quake in the entire German health care system, according to numerous health experts. Therefore, the presumed vote this evening of the Bavarian family doctors is expected not only from the health insurance with excitement. The BHÄV chairman Wolfgang Hoppenthaller, however, was optimistic in the run-up to the event to achieve the necessary quorum for the collective return of the cashier's licenses. (Fp)

Also read:
Substitute funds also terminate family doctor contract
Bavaria calls doctors to reason
Family doctor association insists on system change
AOK Bayern announces general practitioner contracts without notice
PKV and doctors argue about fees
AOK boss: problem with medical oversupply
Dispute between AOK and family doctors escalates

Picture: Rainer Sturm