Every third hospital bill too high

Techniker Krankenkasse Hessen: Every third hospital bill too high. The Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) Hessen has reported that in 2009 in the federal state 33.5 percent of the audited hospital bills had been set too high. The value in dispute is said to have amounted to more than 100 million euros.

(27.04.2010) The Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) Hessen has reported that in 2009 in the federal state 33, 5 percent of the audited hospital bills were set too high. The value in dispute is said to have amounted to more than 100 million euros. Responsible for the examination of the bills is the medical service of the health insurance companies (MDK). He had checked more than 275,000 hospital bills from last year on behalf of the health insurance and found that almost every third billing was too high. In 92,200 cases, the case lump sum was not calculated correctly. Thus, the hospital bill was too high or inpatient admission and treatment was not appropriate according to the MDK. A year earlier, with 29 percent of bad invoices, it had been nearly five percent less in criticized hospital bills.

Upon discovery of a faulty bill, the hospitals must refund the respective amount. The value in dispute is said to have amounted to over 100 million euros in the 2009 found faulty bills for all coffers. The Techniker health insurance had a value in dispute of just over five million euros. In 2008, it had been half a million euros less.

At the moment, a sharp wind is blowing against the hospitals on the medial level. The Chairman of the Board of the GKV Spitzenverbandes, Dr. med. Doris Pfeiffer, has the regulations of the verification modalities as „strange“ designated. Media reports have revealed that for a review of a, but then turned out to be correct, hospital bills the coffers would have to pay a fine of 300 euros. Whereas, in the event of a faulty bill, the hospitals would only have to pay back the unduly demanded difference. Furthermore, according to media reports about 40 percent of the MDK controlled hospital bills nationwide by an average of about 1100 euros to be excessive.

Unfortunately, there is currently no official statement of the German Hospital Association (DKG). It is an association of top and regional associations of hospital bearers of municipal German hospitals and can be seen as an important organ and mouthpiece of hospitals. (TF)