Germany passes law to reform emergency medical care

The German Bundestag has passed a law to reform emergency medical care, aiming to relieve pressure on hospital emergency rooms and ensure patients are directed to the appropriate level of care. A key component of the reform is the implementation of digital and video-supported initial assessments and triage before physical visits.

Under the new system, the existing 116117 service will be split into appointment service and acute care control centers. These digital health guidance systems, alongside the 112 emergency service, will determine whether a patient requires a hospital emergency room, an outpatient emergency practice, or regular medical care. To facilitate this, Integrated Emergency Centers (INZ) and specialized centers for children and adolescents (KINZ) will be established to combine hospital emergency departments with outpatient services.

The reform also recognizes medical emergency rescue as an independent benefit under the Social Code Book V, meaning emergency management and transport are now classified as part of medical treatment rather than just travel costs. While the Paritätischer Gesamtverband welcomed this recognition and improvements to the composition of medical emergency advisory bodies, concerns remain regarding the financing of new emergency centers and the representation of aid organizations within decision-making committees.