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The Court of Audit in Austria has released a draft report, highlighting the need for reform in the country's healthcare system, particularly in the Master Agreement for Doctors with the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (AHIF).
According to the report, doctors' fees have risen twice as much as inflation over the past seven years. This issue, which has been reported by both Profil and Ö1 Midday Journal, has resulted in different fees for the same services being paid by the AHIF, a situation that the Court of Audit finds "not plausible".
The report recommends that the AHIF considers this inflation-based increase in fees during future negotiations. It also suggests increasing the involvement and influence of regional medical chambers in the negotiation and implementation of agreements with the AHIF.
The current Master Agreement requires the consent of both the Austrian Medical Chamber and regional chambers, making reform more difficult. To address this, the Court of Audit recommends the disempowerment of regional medical chambers to facilitate an Austria-wide Master Agreement.
The report also calls for establishing uniform regulations across Austria to replace fragmented regional agreements, which vary significantly and complicate coherent health care policy execution. This move aims to create a more standardized and transparent system that ensures fair conditions for doctors nationwide while addressing regional healthcare needs efficiently.
The issue of different fees for the same services paid by the AHIF remains unresolved. The government proposal, to be prepared by the Ministry of Health, is expected to address the implementation of uniform regulations.
This call for reform aligns with Austria's broader healthcare organization efforts to streamline cooperation between physicians and insurance entities. If you need more detailed legal texts or updates on ongoing negotiations after mid-2025, consulting the official Austrian Health Ministry or the Austrian Court of Audit publications would be advisable, as these bodies oversee and implement such reforms.
The report was released on Wednesday, and its recommendations are aimed at resolving the issue of different fees for the same services paid by the AHIF and at promoting uniform regulations for the Master Agreement for Doctors with the Austrian Health Insurance Fund.
The report underlines the necessity of addressing the medical-conditions in Austria's health-and-wellness sector, specifically the concern over inflated doctors' fees that have risen disproportionately to inflation. To rectify this situation, the report suggests changes in the Master Agreement for Doctors with the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (AHIF), such as increasing the influence of regional medical chambers and implementing uniform regulations nationwide. The science of healthcare economics is crucial in devising solutions to these issues.
