German physicians warn of reduced appointment availability

The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) has warned of potential reductions in medical appointment availability in Germany. Andreas Gassen, head of the KBV, indicated that physicians may respond to fee cuts by limiting services to only what is strictly remunerated.

This tension follows the passage of the GKV Contribution Stabilization Act, which reportedly resulted in a three billion euro reduction in physician fees. The KBV intends to support practices in adjusting their service offerings downward, which the organization notes could lead to lower appointment availability for patients.

Health Minister Carsten Linnemann is currently addressing these challenges by working on legislation to introduce a primary care system. This proposed model would require patients to consult a general practitioner first, who would then manage referrals to specialists based on urgency and specific timelines to optimize specialist availability.