"The remuneration for complex and vital laboratory diagnostic procedures is to be greatly reduced without a well-founded cost calculation," says Dr. Martin Walger, Managing Director of the VDGH. He emphasizes that these measures are neither medically justified nor financially justifiable. "It is clear that there is a lack of appreciation for the crucial role of laboratory diagnostics in healthcare."
"This reform serves neither the patients nor the improvement of the quality of medical care," explains the Chairman of the Accredited Laboratories in Medicine, Dr. Michael Müller. "The plans will lead to considerable distortions in the system, as every fourth specialist laboratory in Germany would be among the losers. This is not justifiable in terms of solidarity and is not economically viable if nationwide provision of laboratory medicine is to be maintained. We expressly welcome the recognizable positive aspects that result from the inclusion of new flat rates for costs not previously taken into account. However, the chosen solution takes the wrong path. As is usually the case, additional funding must be provided for these new lump sums."
White paper with proposed solutions published
This week, ALM e.V. published a comprehensive white paper on the topic entitled "Laborreform 2025: Die Reform, die keine ist". Download ALM Aktuell Spezial.
In it, the association proposes suspending the current resolution for the time being and extending the current regulations by one year. During this time, the consequences of the de-budgeting of GP care for the distribution of fees should be evaluated. A subsequent laboratory reform should be fundamentally geared towards the medical needs of patients and take into account the achievable quality of service provision, so that the necessary broad structure of specialist laboratories as a central framework condition for comprehensive care close to home continues to be ensured.
Further information and press statements from the associations on the topic:
- https:// www.alm-ev.de/aktuell/laborreform-2025/
- https://www.alm-ev.de/labore-lehnen-die-abwertung-von-laboruntersuchungen-zur-gegenfinanzierung-neuer-ebm-pauschalen-ab/
- https://www.vdgh.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/details/laborreform-gegen-die-labore-und-diagnostika-hersteller/
About the Accredited Laboratories in Medicine - ALM e.V.
ALM e.V. is the professional association of accredited medical laboratories (ALM) in Germany and currently represents over 200 medical laboratories with 900 medical specialists, around 500 scientists and around 25,000 qualified employees. The purpose of the association is to promote and ensure high-quality laboratory medical patient care in Germany. The members of the association ensure comprehensive patient care, even in structurally weak areas. The member laboratories are accredited according to the highest quality standard for medical laboratories (DIN ISO EN 15189) and fully comply with the guidelines of the German Medical Association for the quality assurance of laboratory medical examinations (RiliBÄK).
About the Association of the Diagnostics Industry - VDGH
As a trade association, the Association of the Diagnostics Industry (VDGH) represents the interests of more than 100 companies operating in Germany with a total turnover of 5.4 billion euros in 2023. They manufacture examination systems and reagents for the diagnosis of human diseases, with which a turnover of more than 2.3 billion euros is generated, as well as instruments, reagents, test systems and consumables for research in the life sciences, with which a turnover of 3.1 billion euros is generated.
Contact
ALM - Akkreditierte Labore in der Medizin e.V.
Mr. Daniel Schaffer (Managing Director)
Invalidenstraße 113, 10115 Berlin
Phone: 030 403 688 4100
Email: presse@alm-ev.de
www.alm-ev.de
VDGH - Association of the Diagnostics Industry
Mr. Torsten Kiesner (Press Spokesman)
Neustädtische Kirchstraße 8, 10117 Berlin
Phone: 030 200 599 43
E-mail: kiesner@vdgh.de
www.vdgh.de
