2019 Legislative changes in German healthcare sector

As a result of reforms by Health Minister Jens Spahn, new laws will come into force on 1. January 2019 in the areas of health and care.


On the one hand, the contribution to long-term care insurance will rise to 3.05 percent and for childless persons to 3.3 percent. At the same time, the contribution to statutory health insurance will again be divided equally between employers and employees as well as pensioners and pension insurance. This also includes the additional contribution of the health insurance funds, which was reduced by 0.1 percentage points to 0.9 percent in the new year.


On the other hand, hospitals must comply with lower limits for nursing staff in the areas of intensive care medicine, geriatrics, cardiology and accident surgery. In addition, 13,000 jobs will initially be created for nursing care in nursing homes, which will be paid for by the health insurance funds. In addition, each additional position in hospital care will be refinanced by the health insurance funds. The additional costs are also financed by the health insurance companies due to higher tariff agreements. In addition, standard wages for domestic nursing care must be accepted by the health insurance funds.


The new law is intended to make training places more attractive again. Starting in 2019, the remuneration of trainees in their first year of training will be completely covered by the health insurance funds. This applies to children's nursing, nursing and nursing assistance.


In order to make the nurse profession more interesting again, the working conditions are to be improved. In addition to better remuneration, this includes above all the compatibility of work and family life. To this end, nursing homes and hospitals are now being financially supported. In addition, the health insurance funds will have to raise an additional 70 million euros for workplace health promotion.


In order to promote digitization, the nursing insurance funds are releasing 12,000 euros per institution on a one-off basis.


From this year onwards, easier access to inpatient medical rehabilitation services will be guaranteed to relieve the burden on caring relatives. If the person in need of care is cared for in a rehabilitation facility, the health insurance funds will cover the costs.