In the political dispute over the influence of the medical association on health care policy, doctors are confronted with the termination of their health insurance contract. From then on, patients will have to pay for each ordination service. The doctors admit it will be a “shock” for them.
The goal is clear for Naghme Kamaleyan-Schmied: the new president of Vienna’s ordinations wants to “come to the negotiating table” with the federal government and the health insurance fund, which intend to defund the medical association. As a means of pressure, doctors threaten to terminate health insurance contracts. For patients, this would mean that every doctor would then be a kind of doctor of choice: they would first have to pay privately and then – if necessary and partially – receive money back from the health insurer.
“Politicians have no idea”
Kamaleyan-Schmied sees a necessary “short-term shock to the population” to achieve the “long-term goal”. The long-term goal of the medical representative, who only took office in mid-October in the wake of the Vienna Medical Association feud, is a functioning healthcare system in which doctors from statutory health insurance are better paid and can therefore take sufficient time for their patients. That’s what the people want. Politicians should be “drivers of the wishes of the people”, but have “no idea” of these wishes.
Kamaleyan-Schmied paints a bleak picture if the conflict escalates: patients would then have to pay for every medical service, resulting in ambulances being stormed and the health insurance fund losing revenue. The doctors are determined to do everything, she assures us. The chamber is already having lawyers investigate how health insurance contracts can be canceled as quickly as possible.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
