Brandenburg's ambulance fee dispute escalates as districts bill patients for non-transport calls
A dispute over emergency ambulance costs has escalated in Brandenburg, with Märkisch-Oderland leading the way in billing patients for non-transport callouts. The district became the first in the region to announce such fees in 2025, and billing will begin in late April 2026. Meanwhile, state officials and insurers remain locked in negotiations over who should cover these costs. The issue stems from a 2023 agreement on emergency transport costs that excluded non-transport ambulance calls. Last summer, Minister-President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) urged a resolution, but no deal was reached. This week, fresh talks began between the state government, local authorities, and health insurers to address the ongoing dispute.
In late April 2026, Märkisch-Oderland will start sending fee notices to patients who called ambulances but were not transported to hospital. The move follows a court ruling by the Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg, which stated that health insurers are not required to cover these costs. Health Minister René Wilke (SPD) criticised the district's decision, calling it premature. He urged officials to wait for the outcome of the current negotiations before taking action. Despite his objections, 14 of Brandenburg's 14 rural districts and 4 independent cities have now either sent or announced similar fee notices. A temporary moratorium was introduced last week, pausing planned fee notices in Cottbus and Dahme-Spreewald. However, Märkisch-Oderland remains committed to its billing plans, setting the stage for further conflict.
Patients in Märkisch-Oderland will soon receive bills for non-transport ambulance callouts, while negotiations over cost-sharing continue. The dispute highlights a gap in last year's agreement, leaving local authorities and insurers at odds. Without a resolution, more districts may follow suit, increasing financial pressure on residents.
