Overview
- The Bundesrat referred the package, which was attached to the Pflegekompetenzgesetz, to the mediation committee, preventing the measures from taking effect for now.
- The proposal sought about €2 billion in savings for 2026, including roughly €1.8 billion by suspending the Meistbegünstigungsklausel to limit hospital payment growth.
- Länder governments opposed the hospital savings, saying they would harm clinics and risk lower reimbursement baselines in future years.
- Health fund leaders, including TK chief Jens Baas, expect many insurers to raise Zusatzbeiträge in 2026, with Baas forecasting an average above 3 percent as funds rebuild reserves.
- The mediation schedule is unknown, other reforms in the bill are paused, and insurers are setting 2026 budgets with the current average surcharge around 2.9 percent.