Germany’s Bold Plan: Small Fees and Digital Guides to Fix Healthcare
A new proposal could alter how patients in Germany access healthcare. Doctors and insurers are discussing a small fee for each visit, alongside a digital guide to streamline appointments. The aim is to cut costs and avoid unnecessary treatments while keeping the system fair for everyone.
The idea comes from Andreas Gassen, head of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV). He suggested a 'digital doctor’s guide' called DocuCheck to help patients find the right care. The tool would advise on treatments and coordinate appointments, reducing redundant visits.
One way to introduce the guide is through the existing 116117 medical advice hotline. Patients could use it before booking an appointment, ensuring they see the right specialist first time. A second proposal involves a 'contact fee' of 3 or 4 euros per doctor’s visit. The charge would be collected by health insurers to boost their funding. Officials stress that the fee must remain socially balanced, so no one faces excessive costs. The plans target unnecessary multiple treatments, which drive up expenses for the healthcare system. By combining digital guidance with a small fee, insurers hope to make visits more efficient.
If approved, the changes would introduce a digital guide and a modest fee for doctor’s appointments. The system aims to reduce wasted visits while ensuring fair access to care. Health insurers would use the extra revenue to support their services.
