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Germany Passes Law to Expand Nursing Powers and Cut Care Bureaucracy

Implementation now shifts to self-administration to specify services, reflecting a push to cut paperwork in response to an aging population.

Overview

  • The Bundestag approved the measure with votes from the Union and SPD, the AfD opposed, and Greens and Left abstaining, and it does not require Bundesrat consent.
  • Qualified nurses will be authorized to perform tasks previously reserved for physicians, including wound care, blood draws and diabetes follow-ups.
  • In defined cases, a nursing assessment can replace an initial physician diagnosis, allowing certain treatments to proceed without prior medical sign-off.
  • Documentation will be pared back, forms simplified and urgent care applications accelerated to free up time for direct patient care.
  • Specific services and contractual details will be set by health self-administration with nursing associations, as the reform targets staffing gaps tied to demographic pressures.