Germany’s federal parliament has advanced amendments to the hospital reform. On Friday the Bundestag, with the support of the Union and SPD, adopted the revised draft law. While reviewing the text, the Health Committee incorporated 46 amendment proposals from the coalition parties. These changes touch on a number of topics, including giving the Länder more influence over how the reform is implemented, extending implementation deadlines, and addressing financing questions.
The reform, originally approved in 2024, aims to boost quality and efficiency in patient care. A central feature is the reduction of service groups from 65 to 61, with special rules for the assignment of service groups. The introduction of the so‑called standby payment is postponed by a year, and the current surcharges for paediatrics and obstetrics are extended.
Funding of the federal share in the hospital transformation fund is also being altered. The federal government plans to finance its contribution from the special fund for infrastructure and climate neutrality and to increase the planned annual tranches. In its statement, the Bundesrat has called for numerous changes to the government’s draft, especially regarding cross‑sector care facilities.