Medizinischer Dienst fordert Reformen
A report presented by the Medical Service on Thursday reveals that the number of people in need of care has doubled since 2014, reaching a record high of 5.6 million. The trend is expected to continue rising. The report highlights the need for a modernized care assessment system to ensure timely access to suitable care for insured individuals.
The Medical Service has seen a significant increase in care assessments, with over three million conducted in recent years. The organization is advocating for a modernized care assessment system, which would enable the implementation of initial fall management and contribute to a more needs-based planning of care for the elderly.
According to Carola Engler, the deputy chair of the Medical Service, the topic of care has finally gained attention and next to stabilizing the care insurance financially, sustainable reforms are necessary. The modernization of the care assessment system is a crucial step in this direction, as it would allow for a more targeted planning of care for the elderly.
The data also shows that most insured individuals only request care services after significant or severe impairments have already occurred. An analysis of the initial assessments reveals that over a third of applicants (36.1%) were assigned a care level of 2, while 12.9% received a care level of 3 and 3.1% a care level of 4. Only one percent of applicants received the highest care level of 5.