Overview
- The health ministry confirmed that a draft law from Minister Nina Warken has entered interministerial coordination after early vetting.
- Integrierte Notfallzentren are proposed as 24/7 first contact points combining ER access, on-site urgent care practices, and standardized triage.
- The reform mandates digital integration of 112 and 116117 with uniform first assessment, telemedicine options, and video consultations for lower-acuity cases.
- Rescue services would be recognized in SGB V as a distinct benefit area, enabling direct billing as medical services rather than transport-only reimbursement.
- The proposal earmarks €225 million per year from a federal infrastructure fund for digital upgrades and projects long-term savings of about €1.3 billion annually, with cabinet consideration targeted for early next year.