Health insurance criticism of increased physician fees

AOK criticizes increased income of private physicians

08/18/2013

The AOK has criticism of the increase in income of physicians in private practice. The health insurance company regards their last increase in income as determined by the Federal Statistical Office as too high.

Increases of up to 35 percent
The board of the AOK-Bundesverband, Uwe Deh told the magazine „Focus“ related to the increased income: „It remains unclear what the insured persons received for an increase in income of 17 percent.“ It was unacceptable that individual doctor groups could increase their income by up to 35 percent while others did not.

More expenses for practice and staff
A practice conceded in 2011 according to statistics 483,000 euros. That was 21 percent more than in 2007. However, the doctors would have spent more on practice and personnel. The statistics of the Federal Statistical Office referred to the years 2007 to 2011.

Criticism of family doctors association
The head of the family doctors association, Ulrich Weigeldt, also criticized. So medical specialists could not „two to three times a family doctor“ earn, because this leads to young doctors decide for economic reasons against an activity as a family doctor, said Weigeldt compared to the „Focus“. Coffers and doctors began their negotiations on the 2014 fee in mid-August. (Ad)

Picture credits: Thomas Siepmann