Emergency services: Districts vs. health insurance – Who pays the bill?

The districts in Brandenburg are expressing confidence in the preliminary final stages of negotiations on free ambulance rides in Brandenburg – however, an agreement with the health insurance companies is still pending. The goal: to ensure that ambulance rides are free of charge for patients. A deadline expires on June 30th during which no cost notifications for rescue operations may be issued to citizens.

"The discussions between the eight districts affected by fixed fees and the health insurance associations continue to be constructive and solution-oriented," said Johannes Wagner, Managing Director of the District Council, in response to an inquiry. "All parties involved are working intensively to create a sustainable and legally secure basis for the future calculation of emergency service fees."

Another meeting of the districts and health insurance funds is planned for June 30th with State Health Minister Britta Müller (independent, for BSW). According to the Brandenburg Ministry of Health, an agreement has been reached so far regarding ambulance depreciation, but not regarding erroneous journeys. The parties involved are under time pressure due to the expiration of the peacetime obligation. In addition, the districts' revenue losses are increasing.

Since January 1, health insurance companies have only paid fixed flat rates for rescue operations until an agreement on a new calculation is reached with the districts. The districts of Barnim, Oberhavel, Märkisch-Oderland, Oberspreewald-Lausitz, Oder-Spree, Potsdam-Mittelmark, Teltow-Fläming, and Spree-Neiße have not yet reached an agreement with the health insurance companies. According to the district council, the flat rates are illegal. In March, the Märkisch-Oderland district began sending fee notices to patients.

The remaining districts and independent cities had agreed on a calculation with the health insurance companies. However, the city of Frankfurt (Oder) no longer wants to use the previous calculation due to revenue losses, the Märkische Oderzeitung reported. The city wants to see what the eight districts negotiate. However, patients should not be required to contribute to the costs.