Köpping: "The worst prevented" with hospital savings package

The compromise on health insurance contributions in the new year should not place a lasting burden on hospitals, according to Saxony's Minister of Social Affairs Petra Köpping (SPD). In the mediation committee of the Bundesrat and Bundestag, it was agreed that the savings effect would be limited to 2026. The brake on remuneration would not reduce the starting point for subsequent years. "This enabled us to avoid further negative consequences for the financing of hospitals and thus prevent the worst," Köpping told the German Press Agency.

Köpping: Hospitals make major contribution to stable contributions

According to Köpping, the savings package originally planned by the federal government for the statutory health insurance funds at the expense of hospitals could not be supported. With savings on remuneration in the coming year, the hospitals are now making a major contribution to stabilizing contributions. Köpping is confident that the compromise proposal will also find approval in the Bundestag and Bundesrat. She took part in the mediation committee in her capacity as Deputy Prime Minister.

On Wednesday evening in Berlin, the Mediation Committee reached a compromise on the controversial issue of a planned brake on hospital spending. Savings in hospital remuneration in 2026 should therefore not lead to a lower starting point for subsequent years.

The state chambers had stopped the savings package adopted by the Bundestag by Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) in November. The resistance of the federal states was directed against savings of 1.8 billion euros at the clinics, which are to make up the majority of the package of two billion euros. Instead, the increase in hospital remuneration in 2026 is to be limited to the actual cost increases. This should help to stabilize the additional contributions of the health insurance funds on 1 January 2026.