The Austrian Health Insurance Fund (AHIF) Aims to Balance its Books
McDonald, the chairperson of ÖGK, discusses savings plans.
Looks like the AHIF is planning a hefty austerity package next year, aiming for a "black zero" balance. But it's raising eyebrows - older folks and healthcare professionals are crying foul about higher contributions for supposedly worse services. Peter McDonald, chairman of the AHIF, laid it all out in "ZiB 2".
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McDonald's candid about it - the AHIF's already taken on a hefty deficit, and they're taking a two-pronged approach to savings: immediate actions and long-term changes like telemedicine. However, medical costs are bound to keep climbing, leaving some threats beyond their control.
One hot topic is the proposed ambulance co-payments. McDonald couldn't give an exact figure on how much this will save, but Ingrid Korosec, chairwoman of the Austrian Senior Citizens' Association, is concerned the burden might shift onto the backs of pensioners.
Expensive imaging like MR and CT scans will soon require pre-approval, too. McDonald believes there's been excessive use in cases where these tests aren't medically necessary, so they're targeting savings here. X-ray images will also become online and accessible in patients' medical files, eliminating the need for multiple orders. Moreover, an increased focus on primary care facilities has doubled their number.
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Internal Efficiencies
Armin Wolf wondered if savings were being made internally as well. McDonald admitted that 250 positions weren't filled this year, but efforts are underway to cut costs internally. He drew on private sector examples, likening it to running a company with ambitious objectives.
McDonald was vague about whether wealthier individuals might soon be paying more for health insurance. It's a matter for politics, he explained. As for whether insurance premiums will rise for anyone, McDonald’s answer was straightforward: "That's decided by the parliament, who will have to pay more."
Source:
(our website, jde)
Extra Insights:
Health insurance funds often implement cost containment programs, payment integrity programs, and budget adjustments to save money. These strategies can include network savings programs, pre-pay programs for claims, post-payment recovery processes, reallocating budgets towards cost-effective services, and focusing on preventative care. To get the details on the specific measures being taken by the AHIF, it would be best to consult their official communications or reports directly.
- The Austrian Health Insurance Fund (AHIF) is planning to implement a significant austerity package next year, aiming for a balanced budget, often referred to as a "black zero".
- The AHIF's austerity plan includes immediate actions and long-term changes such as telemedicine, as well as internal cost-cutting measures.
- One of the AHIF's proposed cost-cutting measures is the introduction of co-payments for ambulance services, a move that has raised concerns among older citizens and their representatives.
- To reduce unnecessary medical costs, the AHIF will also require pre-approval for expensive imaging like MR and CT scans, and will make X-ray images accessible online and in patients' medical files.
- The AHIF's austerity plan also includes an increased focus on primary care facilities, which has tentatively doubled their number.
- The AHIF's efforts to cut costs internally, inspired by private sector efficiency, may involve filling fewer positions, but the details are yet to be disclosed. Additionally, the question of whether wealthier individuals will pay more for health insurance is a matter for politics and the parliament.
