Berlin. A day after the Cabinet approved the Hospital Care Improvement Act (KHVVG), the KBV announced that it would ask the EU Commission to examine whether the law violates European state aid law. The suspicion is based on structural public aid to clinics provided for by law, while contracted doctors would have to cover the investments out of their own pockets.
“It is highly regrettable and also unacceptable that the already existing competitive disadvantages of the outpatient sector compared to hospitals will be exacerbated,” said a KBV statement late Thursday afternoon.
Cabinet approves reform law
After more than a year of debate
With its complaint to the European Commission, the KBV board is also fulfilling a mandate from the representatives’ meeting, which is in its most recent meeting A corresponding decision was taken in Mainz at the beginning of May.
The KBV is based on a Cool opinion the Stuttgart law firm Gleiss Lutz, according to which the opening of the outpatient clinics planned as part of the reform, if financed with money from the federal states and health insurers, could represent “a relevant benefit under the aid law state-owned companies” for the hospitalization sector.
The KBV did not say on Thursday exactly when and in what form the EU Commission consultation should take place. It is not yet clear when the law will come into force. (cw)
