Midwives No midwifery perspective?

Midwives: No obstetric perspective?

(08.07.2010) After the failed negotiations in March of this year between the central associations of the health insurance companies and the midwives associations, the Arbitration Board decided last Monday that the midwives per birth in a clinic eight euros and for an extra-hospital birth 100 euros more per birth receive.

The convening of the arbitral tribunal, chaired by Professor Dagmar Felix, of the Department of Public Law and Social Law at the University of Hamburg, had become necessary, because even in July the liability premiums for midwives have risen massively. According to it, the liability premiums for midwives have increased by more than 200% since 2007. Currently, the premium is about 3700 euros. Midwives who have bedding and freelance midwives are required by law to hold liability insurance.

The high liability premium includes increased costs for the attitude of a vehicle and for material costs for freelance midwives and increased rents and ancillary costs for practice and public spaces. At present, midwives receive a flat rate of 224 euros for a birth in a clinic. Because of the increased costs and liability premiums, according to the German Midwives Association, about 10% of all midwives who offer freelance work and obstetrics should have terminated their existing contracts with immediate effect as of July. And the „obstetric services for women and their families“ As a result, according to the midwife association, this has already been significantly reduced. In autumn, negotiations will then be held on the ideas of the Arbitration Board, on flat rates for midwives for tolls and recovery and birth preparation courses.

However, the health ministers' conference in Hanover at the Maritim Airport Hotel at the beginning of July already gave positive signals to the midwives. The issue of midwifery was one of the items on the agenda and suggestions for securing the provision of obstetrics by midwives should be prepared there, taking into account the result of the arbitration board. (Tf)

Also read:
Warning of midwife shortage
Midwives: No obstetric perspective?
Midwives: Open letter to the Minister of Health
Tips for successful breastfeeding