Questioning the prospect: May doctors' consultations soon entail consultation fees?

In the realm of German healthcare, a contentious topic has arisen: the introduction of a contact fee for doctor visits. This proposal has been championed by Steffen Kampeter, the Managing Director of the Federal Association of German Employers' Associations, who recently spoke in favour of the idea on the "Berlin Playbook" podcast of "Politico".

However, it's important to note that this proposal is distinct from the primary care system proposal put forward by Klaus Holetschek, the CSU faction leader in the Bavarian state parliament and former Bavarian health minister. Holetschek advocates for a system that guarantees faster appointments with specialists or outpatient treatment in hospitals, but does not propose a contact fee.

Kampeter suggests that a contact fee could help limit doctor-hopping and improve patient guidance, potentially keeping health insurance contributions stable. On the other hand, Holetschek prefers to design the system so that social contributions do not continue to rise, and instead encourages incentives, not penalty payments, to guide patients towards family doctors.

Holetschek has expressed his concerns about the impact of a contact fee on chronic patients, including dialysis patients and those requiring numerous appointments per year. He believes that such a fee would disproportionately affect these individuals.

In a recent interview with the "Munich Mercury", Holetschek reiterated his opposition to the contact fee and his support for the primary care system, as agreed upon in the coalition agreement. He also highlighted that vaccinations and cancer treatments could potentially be affected by the introduction of a contact fee.

The CSU, too, has expressed opposition to the employers' association's proposal for a contact fee during practice visits. Despite this, the Federal Association of German Employers' Associations continues to support the idea, with lower expenditures being a key goal for the employers, according to Kampeter.

It remains to be seen how this debate will unfold, with both sides presenting compelling arguments for their respective positions. The ultimate goal, of course, is to find a solution that ensures affordable and efficient healthcare for all Germans.