The Institut for Hospital Remuneration (InEK) presented the new service-group grouper as part of the German hospital reform. From now on, the tool will determine which hospital cases are allocated to the different service groups—and together with the hospital planning on the federal state level—will determine which hospitals will be allowed to offer and bill what services. Allocation strictly on the basis of defined quality criteria is intended to promote specialization.
The specific case allocation is based on a 12,000-page manual that will soon be published - a bureaucratic tour de force with unclear consequences for many hospitals. At the same time, the financing through the transformation fund is on shaky ground.
Further information on the regulations will be published shortly on the InEK’s website. Grouper manufacturers are currently working on providing certified versions of the system.
Despite the ambitious goals for specialization and quality improvement in the hospital landscape, the question remains as to whether the current reform will bring the desired benefits for patients and hospitals or will only exacerbate the existing challenges in healthcare provision.
What does this mean for you?
The reform not only changes the hospital landscape but also directly impacts reimbursement structures and mechanisms.
As experts in Market Access & Reimbursement, we can help you to correctly assess the potential risks and opportunities of the new requirements.
Get in touch with us to develop a strategy to meet those challenges successfully.
Author: Healthcare Heads GmbH
Phone: +49 431 800 1470
E-Mail: info@healthcareheads.com