[One year of the Health System Modernization Act and its impact on the quality in medicine from the German Medical Association's point of view].
Both the demographic development in Germany and simultaneously expanding treatment options are creating an ever increasing need for medical care, despite stagnating health insurance contributions. By introducing competition, intensifying benefits assessment and improving patient participation the German legislator has tried to provide a fresh impetus through a recent Statutory Health System Modernisation Act (GMG) in order to release potential profitability reserves for the benefit of the statutory health insurance system. Just one year after the modernisation law came into effect, it is not yet possible to make conclusions about the potential effects of these regulatory instruments on the quality of healthcare because the measures set off by the GMG for restructuring the provision of care are still ongoing. However, the experience from other countries shows that introducing competition into the healthcare system may contribute to improving the allocation of resources in a very limited manner only.
Klakow-Franck
Regina
R
Dezernentin der Bundesärztekammer, Berlin. regina.klakow-franck@baek.de
D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards; D005858:Germany; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*