The medical association enters the defensive battle against the government’s reform plans with a heavy threat. If the policy of professional representation – as planned – takes away the right to participate, the contract with the health insurance fund will be terminated, ÄK vice-president Edgar Wutscher said in an interview with the “Krone”. This would mean that all patients would have to pay for each doctor visit themselves and then request reimbursement from their health insurer.
Of course we want to avoid that, Wutscher assured. “That’s the last thing we want. We do not want to fight this conflict on the backs of the patients.” However, the House wants to undo the government’s plans.
Central to the planned reform is that the medical association loses its control over the entire contracts with the health insurer. This means that she no longer has any say over the doctor’s job plan or the design of outpatient clinics. Many experts believe this is too late and accuse the House of exploiting its former power and blocking reforms for decades. One of these critics is health economist Ernest Pichlbauer.
The medical association of course denies this. “It’s not about power. We consider ourselves experts,” says Wutscher. And if the government thinks they can make a contract without involving the doctors, they will withdraw from it. The government’s plans would mean a significant deterioration in supply, Wutscher said.
First of all, the focus is on a broad campaign. The medical association will be spending a large six-figure sum on this and there will be posters and information in the practices. The professional representation does not have much time, because the bills must be submitted to parliament in two weeks and adopted in December. No assessment may take place
However, it is not yet clear whether the Minister of Green Health Johannes Rauch will follow through with his plans. ÖVP health spokesman Josef Smolle, who is a doctor himself, said discussions within the coalition were still ongoing. Green health spokesman Ralph Schallmeiner in turn criticized the chamber’s approach. “I don’t like how fear is being stirred up here and how the devil is being painted on the wall here.”
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
