Overview
- Essen calculates €1,020 per ambulance deployment and projects about €267 will remain unpaid after insurer reimbursement.
- Several districts and large cities in North Rhine-Westphalia plan to issue fee notices to patients as insurer payments are reduced from the new year.
- Statutory insurers cite federal law restricting coverage to care actually delivered to their enrollees, excluding so-called false runs that can account for up to a quarter of callouts.
- The NRW health ministry says it has no legal authority to require insurers to cover the gap, signaling the need for a federal fix.
- The Association of Cities warns municipalities could face at least €250 million in annual shortfalls, and officials fear invoices may discourage people from dialing 112 in emergencies.