Midwives in the future without obstetrics?

Expensive professional liability: Many obstetricians give up work

05/10/2012

More and more midwives are using obstetrics because the associated costs of professional liability are too high a financial burden, reports the news channel "ntv". As a result, many midwives abandon the core of their profession and focus on services such as birth preparation courses or childbed care.

The premiums for professional liability of midwives who offer obstetric care already reach a total of just under 3,700 euros a year. According to "ntv", a further increase to 4,200 euros is planned for July. A financial burden that drives many midwives to discontinue obstetric care. The midwives have been protesting unsuccessfully for years against the massive increase in insurance costs.

Expensive professional liability for midwives
Already in 2010, when the professional liability contributions for midwifery midwives increased from € 2,370 to € 3,689, many decided to abandon the core of their profession. With the now planned increase to an annual contribution of over 4,200 euros, the trend is likely to increase further, so the assessment of the German Midwives Association (DHV). The huge insurance costs will diminish the income of midwifery midwives so that they are no longer willing to keep up their offer. The income of the obstetricians "has always been bad" and after the "liability has made such a huge increase, many are kinked," reports an affected midwife to "ntv".

Rising insurance costs Cause of contribution increases
The occupational burdens of midwives are immense in relation to their income. They are the pregnant women in the weeks around the date of birth almost always available. With the significantly increased costs of professional liability, the relation between expenditure and income has shifted so far that many are no longer willing to offer obstetrics - especially since the contributions for professional liability continue to rise steadily. According to Katrin Rüter of the German Insurance Association (GDV), the reason for the massive increase in premiums is the dramatic increase in insurance costs. For example, over the last few years insurers' professional indemnity expenditure on midwives has increased by an average of almost 15 percent per year, explained Rüter. Although the midwives do not make more mistakes than in the past, the health insurances of injured children take recourse to the liability insurance of the midwives significantly more often, according to the expert. In addition, the costs of care and nursing had risen continuously, resulting in a disproportionate increase in expenditure.

Heavy negotiations with the statutory health insurance companies
In view of the cost explosion in the contributions to professional liability, the midwives demand state regulations that set limits on further increases in contributions. The affected obstetrician Jitka Weber explained to "ntv" that a restriction was urgently needed, "so that this small professional group does not have to cover tens of millions each year with their insurance." Especially the freelance midwives have for years with the massive contribution increases in the Therefore, professional liability and therefore limited to areas where the contributions to the liability are less high, such as birth preparation courses or childbirth care. In order to remedy this malady, the German Midwives Association also demands a better benefit payment from the statutory health insurances (GKV). However, the talks with the GKV-Spitzenverband "shortly before the conclusion of months of contract negotiations on midwife fees" by the relevant associations such as the German Midwives Association, the Federation of freelance midwives Germany and the network of birthplaces were interrupted because of the health insurance tactical games would be operated, so the press release of the DHV on the weekend. "With each past week save the health insurance, while the midwives get too little money," said Martina Klenk, President of the German Midwives Association.

Midwives hope for political support
In general, the midwives hope for more support from the policy, because in the current situation the supply is suffering. "Since the end of January, nine hospitals have discontinued the obstetrics department. On the other hand, more and more birthing centers are closing, "said the spokeswoman for the DHV, Dr. Ing. Edith Wolber. The supply gaps that would arise when all freelance midwives cease their work are indicated by the number of births attended. About 25 percent of births (678,000 newborns in 2010, according to the Federal Statistical Office) are accompanied by freelance midwives. However, according to the DHV, only a quarter of self-employed midwives today provide obstetrics. (Fp)

Also read about midwives:
Existence of midwives is threatened
Birth as an expensive hobby for midwives
The profession of midwives is threatened
Midwives strike for four days
Cesarean birth rate reached record mark
Midwives strike for four days