Health reforms 2025: Warken announces comprehensive measures!

Health reforms 2025: Warken announces comprehensive measures!

On May 16, 2025, Federal Health Minister Nina Warken is planning comprehensive structural reforms in the health and care sector. These reforms are urgently needed, Warken said, because the challenges facing the system are significant. At the same meeting, Gematik's managing director, Florian Fuhrmann, gave a positive assessment of the electronic patient record (ePA), which recorded impressive access figures after two weeks. In May, 800 million euros are also to be made available in the health fund of the statutory health insurance (GKV), which was decided in coordination with the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Warken describes the situation of the GKV as dramatic. Health policy reforms, especially the reform of standard outpatient care, are very popular. NRW Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann reiterated the federal government's support for these reforms and emphasized that family doctor-centered care (HZV) should be made more binding as a model for a future primary doctor system.

Reforms in the hospital system

A fundamental change in the remuneration system in inpatient care is also imminent. According to the Hospital Care Improvement Act, quality and specialization will be rewarded in the future, while comprehensive care offerings will be promoted through surcharges. These changes will begin in 2025 and will be implemented gradually by the end of 2026. A central point will be the allocation of service groups for hospitals by the federal states, which must be done by the end of 2026.

In addition, a fundamental overhaul of the financing system is planned between 2027 and 2028. An important measure to improve the personnel situation in hospitals is the scientific testing of a personnel measurement tool that could also be relevant for other professional groups such as midwives and physiotherapists. This review will be carried out by September 2025.

De-bureaucratization and refinancing

Massive de-bureaucratization in the healthcare system is also part of the reform plans. Measures to reduce administrative burdens in hospitals will be introduced, including the harmonization and simplification of audit procedures and the possibility of extending audit intervals for structural audits to three years. In addition, care-relieving measures will be recognized across the board in the future.

An important point in the reforms concerns tariff cost refinancing. From 2024, cost increases are to be fully refinanced through tariff increases for hospital staff. This will help hospitals better manage their financial burdens.

In the current health policy debate, the German Medical Association and the Drug and Addiction Help Association (FDR) warn of major challenges, particularly with regard to supporting addicts and the increasing number of drug-related deaths. Long Covid and chronic exhaustion caused social costs of around 63 billion euros in Germany in 2024. Associations are strongly calling for rapid reforms in the nursing sector, especially on the occasion of International Nurses' Day.

The upcoming reforms in the healthcare system have the potential to sustainably improve the structure of care and are being closely followed by various stakeholders in the healthcare system. However, the reform process will not be without difficulties, as the minister and the relevant associations repeatedly emphasize.

Further information is available on the websites of General local health insurance companies and des Federal Ministry of Health to find.