Modern laboratory diagnostics is a mainstay of healthcare and the basis for 70 percent of all medical diagnoses. It enables rapid treatment decisions to be made and diseases to be detected at an early stage. However, although it is essential, laboratory diagnostics are rarely the focus of public attention. The cuts in doctors' remuneration that have been decided are now exacerbating this.
Dr. Martin Walger, Managing Director of the VDGH, explains: "It is irresponsible that central tests such as HbA1c have been cut so sharply in terms of remuneration that many practices can no longer cover their costs. Especially in diabetes care, such decisions can have a serious impact on the quality of care and thus on the health of patients."
It is important to emphasize that the reduction in the reimbursement figures in the standard valuation scale does not reduce the price of the diagnostic procedure itself. Instead, this is an adjustment to the medical remuneration, which also includes the performance of diagnostic tests. Diagnostics is part of the overall medical service, the remuneration of which is coming under severe pressure as a result of the cuts.
In addition, there are stricter requirements for the technical equipment of diabetologists. The German Medical Association has tightened the regulations for glucose determination, the most common measurement in diabetology. For many practices, this means the purchase of new, expensive equipment, the financing of which is hardly possible against the background of falling remuneration.
"The self-administration of medical remuneration is making decisions far removed from political control and without considering the consequences for care," Dr. Walger continued. "The result is possible gaps in care in the future, which can be dangerous for patients."
These developments are also problematic for patient compliance. "If patients receive their test result immediately, this is not only much more effective for treatment, but also for adherence to treatment," emphasizes Dr. Walger. "Direct feedback is more efficient than delayed notification of results, where patients have to be called in again."
The VDGH is calling for the value of laboratory diagnostics to be recognized and for sustainable funding that does justice to the importance of diagnostics for healthcare. Without adequate remuneration, numerous important tests will disappear from comprehensive care, with serious consequences for patient safety.