Overview

• Health Minister Nina Warken said the cabinet pulled planned adjustments to the hospital reform because there is no internal agreement yet.
• Tino Sorge, parliamentary state secretary, proposed lower-cost base tariffs within the statutory system, with optional add-on packages and incentives for primary-care gatekeeping.
• Warken said the base-tariff idea could be discussed by the new commission but is not a measure for 2026, while she no longer rules out benefit reductions to stabilize finances.
• Patient advocates, the DGB and Greens warned the proposal risks a more unequal three‑tier system, whereas the KBV welcomed debate on voluntary choice tariffs; GKV leaders called the tariff focus a distraction from structural cost drivers.
• An expert panel is to start work this month and report by spring 2026, as officials grapple with rising costs, shrinking reserves and a projected funding gap that could otherwise push contributions higher.