A lot will change again in the healthcare system in 2023: The Federal Minister of Health has announced comprehensive reforms - in terms of digitalization and also in hospitals. At the same time, health insurance contributions will rise and the corona pandemic also remains an issue. An Overview of Change in Healthcare.

E-certificate of incapacity for work becomes mandatory for employers

Since 2022, sending the electronic certificate of incapacity for work (eAU) to the health insurance companies has been mandatory for all doctors. From 2023, employers will also be required to participate in the reporting process for the electronic certificate of incapacity for work.

In the future, employers will retrieve the AU for legally insured employees digitally from the responsible health insurance company. Employees then no longer have to provide their employer with a certificate of their sickness report. However, you will still receive a paper certificate of incapacity for work from your doctor in order to be able to prove your sickness report if necessary. There are no changes to the general regulations on how to report sick to your employer.

Sick notice: This is important to note

You can read about what you need to consider when reporting sick to your employer here:

Health insurance contributions are rising

, statutory health insurance contributions will rise by 0.3 percentage points to an average of 16.2 percent of gross wages. This results from Statutory Health Insurance Financial Stabilization Act, which was passed in the fall. The increase is intended to reduce the statutory health insurance companies' financial deficit of 17 billion euros.

Contributions for privately insured people also rising. As the Association of Private Health Insurance writes, health insurance contributions increase by an average of 3.7 percent. Contributions in private care will also be increased on January 1st. The average contribution for employees and self-employed people is around 104 euros per month. The reason is the adjustments to the nursing care reform.

The contribution assessment limit is increased

From January 1st, the assessment limits for statutory health insurance and long-term care insurance will be adjusted upwards. The contribution assessment limit is the relevant calculation variable for social insurance. An employee's income is subject to contributions up to the contribution assessment limit; everything above this is contribution-free. In 2023, the contribution assessment limit will rise to 59,850 euros per year (monthly 4,987.50 euros) and the compulsory insurance limit will rise to 66,600 euros annually (monthly 5,550 euros). Anyone who earns more than this amount can take out private health insurance.

Employer subsidies for privately insured people increase

Due to the adjustments to the contribution assessment limit and the increase in the additional contribution for statutory health insurance companies, the employer subsidy for private health insurance increases by just over 20 euros per month. As the Association of Private Health Insurance announces, this change will also apply from January 1, 2023.

Additional children's sick days due to Corona in 2023

Due to the still high number of corona infections, the federal government has extended the expanded children's sickness regulation until April 7th. Every legally insured parent is entitled to a maximum of 30 working days of child sickness benefit per child. If there are several children, this is a maximum of 65 days. Single parents are entitled to 60 working days or – if there are several children – to a maximum of 130 days. Child sickness benefit usually amounts to 90 percent of the lost net salary.

Compulsory vaccination against COVID-19 in the healthcare sector has been lifted

The statutory vaccination requirement for healthcare workers will expire at the end of 2022. Since March 2022, staff at clinics, nursing homes and similar facilities have had to prove that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have recovered from an illness. If proof or a certificate was not provided, health authorities could issue activity or entry bans. A fine of up to 2,500 euros could also be imposed. The facility-related vaccination requirement was regulated in Section 20a of the Infection Protection Act.

COVID-19: Information about vaccination and SARS-CoV-2

Answers to important questions about the disease COVID-19 and the current vaccination recommendations in Germany.

Smoking will become more expensive in 2023

Cigarettes, cigarillos and tobacco will become more expensive from January 1st. The reason is a reform of the tobacco tax in 2021. The federal government at the time decided to gradually increase the tax over a period of five years. For example, the price of a pack of cigarettes is expected to rise by around 8 cents annually by 2026.

Right to a second medical opinion expanded

From January 1, 2023, patients will also be entitled to a second medical opinion before a planned gallbladder removal. When making the indication, doctors must point out the right to obtain a second opinion. With this decision, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) is expanding its guidelines on the second opinion procedure to include a further plannable intervention.

There is currently a legal right to a second opinion for amputation for diabetic foot syndrome, palatine or pharyngeal tonsils, the spine, hysterectomy or cardiac arrhythmias, in which an electrophysiological cardiac catheter examination or obliteration of heart tissue (ablation) is recommended. Second opinions are also legally possible for joint endoscopy of the shoulder and for the implantation of a knee endoprosthesis.

More guidance on minimum quantity regulations in hospitals

On the website of the Institute for Quality Assurance and Transparency in Healthcare, patients will in future be able to find out which hospital locations in the immediate and wider area are authorized to provide certain predictable and minimum volume-relevant inpatient services.

The minimum quantity regulation was introduced in 2004 in order to ensure the quality of medical services and procedures of high complexity through experience and routine. These include, for example, kidney and liver transplants, the care of premature and newborn babies or total knee joint replacements. On the new website you can enter your zip code and the planned procedure and you will be shown corresponding hospital locations in your area that meet the minimum quantities: https://iqtig.org/mindestmengeregulationen/

Electronic patient records receive additional functions

In 2023, the electronic patient record (ePA) will be expanded to include new functions. From 2023, insured people will be able to store additional medical information in their ePA, such as data on incapacity for work in the form of the electronic certificate of incapacity for work, participation in structured treatment programs for chronic illnesses or digital health applications.

The electronic patient record (ePA)

Since January 2021, everyone with statutory health insurance has been able to use the electronic patient file - at least theoretically. You can read how it works and what benefits it can bring here:

Source:

Health portal
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