Overview
- Andreas Gassen, the head of Germany’s doctors’ association, warned Monday that waits for specialists could reach 50 days or more if the government enacts proposed cuts, citing a long‑running budget cap that leaves about 40 million specialist visits unpaid and the risk that ending appointment surcharges would shrink available slots.
- An expert panel appointed by Health Minister Nina Warken outlined 66 ways to shore up statutory health insurance finances, including a strict cap on provider pay, scrapping free spouse co‑insurance, higher drug co‑pays, and extra taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks.
- The SPD dismissed Gassen’s warnings as interest‑driven and backed a legal right to a specialist visit within three weeks, with ideas such as bonus‑malus pay rules that would cut budgets for practices that do not offer enough appointments.
- Government figures show the average wait for people on statutory insurance rose from 33 days in 2019 to 42 days in 2024, underscoring the access strain that fuels the fight over cuts and guarantees.
- No decisions have been made on the panel’s proposals, and the coalition is also working on a primary‑care gatekeeping model that would route patients through a family doctor and target referrals within set timeframes from about 2028.