Hospitals in need: Lauterbach wants to take countermeasures – patients could be released earlier

Created: 12/23/2022, 1:40 p.m

By: Florian Naumann

Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) at a press event in Berlin.

© Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa

Karl Lauterbach sees an “unprecedented wave of infections” in Germany.

The minister now wants to dismiss the clinics – a temporary regulation should be made for this.

Berlin – Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) wants to react to difficulties in hospitals in the current wave of infections.

By reducing bureaucracy, but probably also by earlier dismissals of patients.

Lauterbach explained this to the

.

"High levels of sick leave and an unprecedented wave of infections are putting pressure on children's hospitals in particular," said the minister.

Therefore, in addition to financial help, the staff should be noticeably relieved of additional bureaucracy.

"Children in particular should not have to stay in the hospital just to complete billing formalities."

Lauterbach wants to relieve hospitals - also through earlier patient discharges?

At the same time, a request was made to the health insurance companies, among other things, to suspend examinations by the medical service until the end of January 2023, Lauterbach clarified.

This could create further urgently needed treatment capacities and relieve staff on all wards of documentation.

In a letter from Lauterbach to the private and statutory health insurance companies - more precisely to their central association GKV - the option of possible earlier dismissals from the clinics also sounds, writes the RND.

Because the cash registers should also suspend the “lower limit length of stay” until the end of January.

If a patient's stay falls below this mark, the hospitals usually receive less compensation.

The regulation is actually intended to prevent people from being released too early for cost reasons.

However, it can also lead to longer stays that are not absolutely necessary.

Wave of infection in Germany: a million-euro package is already on its way

Many children's practices and children's wards are currently overcrowded due to a wave of respiratory infections.

Regardless of the acute crisis, the Bundestag had passed a legislative package on hospitals that is intended to bring more money for children's clinics and relief for urgently needed nursing staff.

There should be an additional 300 million euros each for children's hospitals in 2023 and 2024.

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