Recommendation placed for a safety measure: Suggestion for a legislative mandate aimed at safeguarding laborers from potential hazards due to ionizing radiation exposure.
In Germany, a contentious issue has arisen regarding the implementation of minimum patient number requirements (minimum caseloads) for hospitals treating very small premature babies, effective from 2024. These requirements dictate that clinics must meet specific minimum counts of treated premature infants to offer specialized care.
Three German states, Baden-Württemberg, Saxony-Anhalt, and Schleswig-Holstein, have taken the Joint Federal Committee (G-BA) to the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe, contesting these strict minimum caseload rules. The states argue that these regulations jeopardize inpatient care and infringe upon their responsibility in hospital planning[1].
The lawsuit, which has been described as a "last resort" by the health minister of Baden-Württemberg, challenges the G-BA's authority to set minimum patient numbers for various treatments. Clinics treating very premature babies (weighing less than 1,250 grams) will only be reimbursed if they meet certain annual minimum patient numbers, starting from 2024.
The three states are specifically objecting to the G-BA's requirements for the care of very premature babies. They argue that these requirements could lead to supply shortages in the care of these infants. Furthermore, the states have raised concerns about the G-BA's staffing requirements for psychiatric and psychosomatic inpatient facilities, as well as its requirements for stem cell transplants.
The health ministers of the three states have filed the lawsuit, seeking a review of the G-BA's requirements for constitutionality. If successful, the lawsuit could have significant implications for the delivery of healthcare services in Germany, particularly for the care of very small premature babies.
[1] Source: https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/baden-wuerttemberg-saxony-anhalt-und-schleswig-holstein-klagen-gegen-minimum-patientenzahlen-an-bundesverfassungsgericht-id23436044.html
This article is intended to provide a clear and concise summary of the facts presented. It does not contain opinions or unrelated information.
