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Cottbus to Send First Ambulance Fee Notices This Month in Dispute With Insurers

Cottbus cites insurers covering only 80% of rescue costs after a court ruling on non-transport calls.

Overview

  • About 1,000 people who dialed 112 in January 2025 will receive retroactive bills starting at the end of March, the city said.
  • City officials report a €2.5 million immediate shortfall and an overall exposure of roughly €13 million for 2025 because insurers recognized only part of last year's rescue-service costs.
  • A January ruling by the Oberverwaltungsgericht Berlin-Brandenburg held that deployments without hospital transport do not have to be covered by statutory insurers.
  • Recipients are advised to submit the fee notices to their health insurers to seek reimbursement.
  • New state health minister René Wilke called the situation 'brenzlig,' proposed a round table, and began talks as opposition parties urge state funding and the government points to a federal reform.