The basic aim is for the health insurance company to cover the costs, but only for high-risk patients. The sticking point is the level of the fee. A proposal from the Medical Association is now being “examined” by the umbrella association of social insurance companies, the association told APA on Friday, and they hope to reach an agreement soon.
Back in May, Vice President of the Medical Association Edgar Wutscher pointed out that, in the interests of patients, we had to be prepared for the autumn, as a renewed increase in cases was expected. Such an increase has now already begun over the summer – earlier than in 2023, as a look at the Covid wastewater data shows.
Negotiations have been dragging on for months
The negotiations have been dragging on for months: since April, the federal government has no longer covered the costs of the antigen tests. Even then, it was planned that a solution would be found via social insurance. Such a solution had originally been announced for mid-April: on April 2, the chairman of the Conference of Social Insurance Institutions, Peter Lehner, had already announced to the APA after a round of negotiations with the Medical Association that a solution would be presented “in around 14 days”.
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The last announcement was in mid-July that a solution had been worked out and would now be voted on by the committees. The chairman of the Conference of Social Insurance Institutions, Peter Lehner, explained in a written statement to the APA that the “latest date” for presenting a solution would be the beginning of August. Vice President of the Medical Association Wutscher also spoke at the time of “timely finalization”.
The tests were free for those suspected of having corona in the doctor’s offices until the end of March, and the federal government covered the costs until then. A positive corona test is a prerequisite for high-risk patients to be entitled to the antiviral drug Paxlovid. At the moment, a Covid test is offered by the doctor to his patient as a private service. A reimbursement of five euros per test can be claimed from the health insurance company.
Covid-19 Testing Fees: Health Insurance Companies and Medical Association in Protracted Negotiations
As the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, health insurance companies and medical associations in Austria are locked in negotiations over the fees for COVID-19 testing. The main objective is for health insurance companies to cover the costs of testing, but only for high-risk patients. However, the sticking point lies in the level of the fee.
The Medical Association has proposed a solution, which is currently being examined by the umbrella association of social insurance companies. The hope is to reach an agreement soon, but the negotiations have been dragging on for months.
Rise in COVID-19 Cases: The Need for a Solution
The importance of finding a solution cannot be overstated. Vice President of the Medical Association, Edgar Wutscher, warned back in May that Austria needed to be prepared for an increase in cases in the autumn. Unfortunately, this increase has already begun, earlier than expected, as indicated by the COVID-19 wastewater data.
A Long and Winding Road
The negotiations between health insurance companies and the Medical Association have been ongoing since April, when the federal government stopped covering the costs of antigen tests. Initially, a solution was promised by mid-April, but it has yet to materialize.
In early April, the chairman of the Conference of Social Insurance Institutions, Peter Lehner, announced that a solution would be presented within 14 days. However, that deadline was missed, and subsequent announcements have only led to further delays.
The Last Announcement
The latest update came in mid-July, when a solution was reportedly worked out and was set to be voted on by the committees. However, there has been no progress since then, leaving high-risk patients and healthcare providers in limbo.
The Impact of Delayed Negotiations
The protracted negotiations are having far-reaching consequences. High-risk patients are being forced to bear the costs of COVID-19 testing, which can be a significant financial burden. Healthcare providers, on the other hand, are shouldering the costs of testing, which is affecting their ability to provide quality care to patients.
The Way Forward
It is imperative that health insurance companies and the Medical Association come to an agreement as soon as possible. The lives of high-risk patients hang in the balance, and the healthcare system is under immense pressure.
Austrians are watching with bated breath as the negotiations continue. One thing is clear: a solution must be found, and it must be found quickly. The longer the negotiations drag on, the more lives will be affected.
Keywords: Covid-19, Health Insurance, Medical Association, Austria, Testing Fees, Negotiations, High-Risk Patients, Healthcare Providers.
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