Fees for minor cases may seem sensible at first glance. In reality, it is not penalty fees that relieve emergency departments, but functioning care pathways and a well-developed primary care system. H+ hopes that the Council of States will reconsider this serious decision.
More Bureaucracy, No Benefit
The instrument decided by the National Council will primarily mean more bureaucracy for hospitals. Hospitals will have to check if a written referral is present for each emergency visit, document it, and send it to health insurers. Additionally, higher costs loom due to additional clarifications and complaints. Instead of a saving effect, it will lead to further increased costs.
Problem Lies in the Reality of Healthcare Provision
Moreover, the reality of healthcare provision does not fit well with this regulation. Especially during off-hours, weekends, or in rural areas, the emergency department is often the only quickly available point of contact. Therefore, this additional fee primarily impacts those who have no alternative in emergency situations. Additionally, socially disadvantaged and chronically ill individuals might be deterred from seeking necessary treatments.
Relief Only Achieved with Better Alternatives
H+ explicitly calls for practicable solutions: an expanded primary care system, targeted strengthening of general practice medicine, and an emergency triage in the field of telemedicine. This is exactly where the leverage lies if hospital emergency departments are to be effectively relieved.