Seriously ill people often experience an acute deterioration of their health in the final phase of their lives and are dependent on highly effective medications such as opiates. In the past, palliative care patients sometimes had to wait longer for their medication after receiving a prescription. A few months ago, however, the burden was made easier.
On prescription, palliative emergency medicines such as opiates can be provided directly to patients since an amendment to the Narcotics Regulation in February 2024. These had to be ordered in advance, which of course entailed a certain waiting period.
Social security does not cover storage costs
However, the social insurance does not reimburse costs for the patient-independent provision of medication, which is now permitted. The Ministry of Health is therefore making available an amount of 230,000 euros to cover the additional costs of palliative emergency medication for intramural care and support facilities, for mobile palliative teams, intramural hospices and day hospices.
Hospice Austria, the umbrella organisation for palliative and hospice services, is responsible for processing. From autumn onwards, invoices can be uploaded via a submission platform.
Rauch: “Fast and unbureaucratic care”
“We have succeeded in ensuring that patients receive highly effective medication quickly and unbureaucratically in the event of an acute deterioration in their health. By taking on the costs, we are now relieving the burden on palliative care institutions,” explains Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens).
Source: Krone
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