Medical assessment transparency reforms proposed in Germany and Austria

The German Federal Cabinet has approved a draft for the Care Reorganization Act, which aims to tighten requirements for medical assessments. Under the proposed changes, if the Medical Service does not recommend rehabilitation during a care assessment, it must explicitly explain the specific reasons for that decision. This measure is intended to help patients and relatives identify whether findings were overlooked or if treatment prospects were incorrectly assessed.

In Austria, patient advocates are raising concerns regarding the transparency of medical assessments conducted by the Pensionsversicherungsanstalt (PVA). Jürgen Holzinger, chairman of the association ChronischKrank, reported that psychological tests and questionnaires—including those measuring concentration, memory, or personality—are frequently redacted in reports. While the PVA maintains that redactions protect methodological validity, advocates argue that patients require full insight into the methods and diagnostics used to ensure their legal rights are protected during appeals for disability or care benefits.