A crude report by the Court of Auditors (RH) on health insurance reform under the ÖVP-FPÖ government caused a stir among the opposition and physician representatives. Accordingly, the “patient billion” propagated by the government at the time, which should have directly benefited the insured, does not exist.
Instead of these savings, there was an extra charge of 214.95 million euros, the Court of Audit criticized, according to an online report by the news magazine ‘profil’.
Must be blown up by 1.21 billion
The accountants compared the actual administrative burden and the forecasts for 2023, which are from February 2022, with the government’s savings target from 2018. The target was exceeded by 1.21 billion euros. From the Court’s point of view, the goal of the 2018 ÖVP and FPÖ was unrealistic anyway: the government expected merger costs at the time, but did not quantify them.
According to the Court of Auditors, one of the reasons for the increase in costs is the number of employees at the merged health insurers, which has increased slightly, contrary to the announcement of the turquoise-blue government. After all, at some institutions there was a slight downsizing. In its recommendations, the Court considers a redefinition of realistic targets necessary.
Assured “on the shame”.
The opposition also tore up the former turquoise-blue measure on Saturday. For SPÖ health spokesman Philip Kucher, the billion patients promised at the time are now finally a “disgrace”. “The government must end insulting policyholders,” said NEOS spokesman Gerald Loacker.
The medical association also saw her initial criticisms confirmed. “Either the government has lied to us, or the management has failed. In any case, the mess that has been caused there must be cleaned up as soon as possible,” demanded chairman Johannes Steinhart.
Source: Krone
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