Overview
- An arbitration panel set the revised Hebammenhilfevertrag in April after talks with the GKV-Spitzenverband collapsed, and it entered into force in early November.
- The midwives’ association reports substantial pay cuts for many freelancers, with Beleghebammen facing reductions of up to about 30% and hourly rates roughly €10 below comparable therapy professions.
- According to the association, at least two entire delivery-room teams in Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia have resigned, and further individual departures are being reported.
- The association has filed suit at the Berlin-Brandenburg regional social court and submitted an urgent motion seeking to suspend the contract provisions that affect the Beleg system, with a decision still pending.
- Leaders warn of regional shortages and potential delivery-ward closures under the new pay rules, while political options to overturn an arbitrated contract are constrained by health-system self-governance.