Discussions surrounding the potential implementation of a primary care physician system for individuals with statutory health insurance have sparked debate within the governing coalition. Proposals now include the consideration of a financial penalty for patients opting to bypass the planned system.
According to reports, Albert Stegemann, Deputy Chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, suggested that a fee of 200 Euros could be levied on patients who choose to directly schedule appointments with specialists, rather than first consulting with their designated primary care physician. He argued this measure is necessary to ensure the intended redirection of patient flow within the proposed system.
Stephan Pilsinger, CSU Member of Parliament and health policy expert, echoed the sentiment, advocating for patient fees as a means of discouraging direct specialist appointments. He emphasized the need to alleviate specialists from handling less urgent cases, thus improving access to appointments for all.
However, Pilsinger explicitly ruled out the introduction of a general consultation fee, stating that such a measure would disproportionately affect individuals with chronic illnesses. The CSU maintains its opposition to contact fees or the creation of new consultation charges that could negatively impact vulnerable patient groups.